Value-Added Services for STAR Kids

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) offers a respite care Value-Added Service (VAS) for STAR Kids members in the Medically Dependent Children’s Program (MDCP). Respite care provides temporary relief for parents or LARs who are caring for a child with special needs.

BCBSTX offers 8 hours of care a month. You must work with your child’s service coordinator to get the respite care VAS. This VAS is in addition to your child’s covered benefit of respite services.

Note: You must be current on your service coordination plan to be eligible. In addition, respite providers must be willing to bill BCBSTX with an invoice for BCBSTX to cover this cost. This service is limited to day time 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time. It is not intended for overnight use.

Value-Added Services may have restrictions and limitations. For a complete list of limitations, please refer to the Member Handbook or the Value-Added Services brochure.

BCBSTX offers a $75 gift card to STAR Kids members ages birth through 15 months who complete their Texas Health Steps checkups.

To get the gift card, members must be active on the plan at the time of the checkup, and checkups must be completed by an in-network PCP (Primary Care Provider). Gift card awards are based on claims your doctor will send to BCBSTX after the checkup is completed. Once your doctor sends BCBSTX the claim, it could take up to two months for you to get the gift card.

To receive the gift card, the member/parent/guardian must register through the Healthmine portal. After your provider submits a claim to BCBSTX, you will get a letter in the mail that will tell you how to register with Healthmine where you can choose your gift card award.

Note: Value-Added Services may have restrictions and limitations. For a complete list of limitations, please refer to the Member Handbook or the Value-Added Services brochure.

Adolescents should see their PCP or OB/GYN once a year. STAR Kids members ages 12 to 21 who get their yearly Texas Health Steps checkup are eligible to get a $25 gift card.

To get the gift card, members must be active on the plan at the time of the checkup, and checkups must be completed by an in-network PCP or OB/GYN. Gift card awards are based on claims your doctor will send to BCBSTX after the checkup is completed. Once your doctor sends BCBSTX the claim, it could take up to two months for you to get the gift card.

To receive the gift card, the member/parent/guardian must register through the Healthmine portal. After your provider submits a claim to BCBSTX, you will get a letter in the mail that will tell you how to register with Healthmine where you can choose your gift card award.

If you have received a notice that you have earned a reward for getting your child a Texas Health Steps visit, go to bcbstx.com/wellnessrewards to register to receive your gift card reward in the mail. 

Note: Value-Added Services may have restrictions and limitations. For a complete list of limitations, please refer to the Member Handbook or the Value-Added Services brochure.

STAR Kids members ages 18 and under can get one upgrade to eyewear such as:

• one pair of stylish frames (upgraded from basic frames), 
• upgraded lenses, 
• or an extra pair of glasses.

Children must complete an eye exam before using this VAS. The value of the upgrade cannot be over $150. The VAS must be fulfilled by a Davis Vision provider.

For more information on our enhanced eyewear for kids, call our customer service at 1-877-688-1811. Members with hearing or speech loss may call the TTY line at 711. You may also schedule an appointment with your Davis vision provider.

Note: Value-Added Services may have restrictions and limitations. For a complete list of limitations, please refer to the Member Handbook or the Value-Added Services brochure.

Fresh and Healthy Produce Delivery: Pregnant STAR Kids members can get up to $50 of fresh fruits and vegetables delivered to their home each year. Call Member Outreach to ask for help getting this VAS.

Limitations: Members must be active on the BCBSTX plan and be pregnant when they ask for this VAS. The food items are limited to the BCBSTX approved list which may change depending on the vendor’s supply.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas recognizes that nutrition is an important factor in your child’s overall health. That’s why we offer a meal benefit that includes frozen meal delivery to qualifying members after leaving the hospital.

STAR Kids members who go home after a hospital stay will be offered the chance to order up to 14 meals from the meal services provider.

Note: Value-Added Services may have restrictions and limitations. For a complete list of limitations, please refer to the Member Handbook or the Value-Added Services brochure.

STAR Kids members can schedule free rides to medical appointments and other related services through the Non-emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) program. Learn more about NEMT transportation services.

If you are not able to get a ride through NEMT, BCBSTX may be able to help. BCBSTX’s transportation Value-Added Service (VAS) offers free rides to approved services not covered by Medicaid, including:

• BCBSTX member events and meetings
• Approved health classes
• VAS services such as hippotherapy
• For covered services where the parent needs to bring more than one child

How Do I Get Transportation Benefits?

BCBSTX STAR Kids members can get help through our VAS transportation vendor, ModivCare, when NEMT is not available. ModivCare is an independent company providing transportation services for STAR Kids members of BCBSTX.

If NEMT is unable to help you and you still need help getting a ride, please call BCBSTX Customer Service at 1-877-688-1811 (TTY 711) to schedule a ride.

Please have this information ready when you call:

• Your child’s full name, current address and phone number
• Your child’s member ID number
• The date you want to ride
• The name, address and phone number of where you are going
• What kind of appointment you are going to
• If you will need a wheelchair van or some other kind of help during the trip

Note: Value-Added Services may have restrictions and limitations. For a complete list of limitations, please refer to the Member Handbook or the Value-Added Services brochure.

We help STAR kids take part in sports and fitness activities by giving free physicals for kids 18 and under who are going to camp or playing sports.

Make an appointment with your child's Primary Care Provider (PCP) to get the physical. No authorization is needed. If you have questions, call our customer service at 1-888-657-6061. Members with hearing or speech loss may call the TTY line at 711.

Note: Value Added Services may have restrictions and limitations. For a complete list of limitations, please refer to the Member Handbook or the Value Added Services brochure.

Summer Camp Reimbursement

Parents/guardians/LARs of STAR Kids members may request up to $100 reimbursement for summer day camp enrollment fees by contacting STAR Kids Member Outreach at 1-877-375-9097. A receipt for payment must be provided to Outreach for reimbursement.

Limitations: The maximum reimbursement is up to $100 for summer day camp enrollment fees. Funds can only apply to approved Day Camps that are not camps covered through the MDCP camp benefits.

Pregnant STAR Kids members are eligible to receive a $25 gift card upon timely completion of the first prenatal visit.

Limitations: Pregnant members must complete their first prenatal visit within the first trimester or within 42 days of enrollment with BCBSTX. Members must be active on the plan to receive the gift card reward.

STAR Kids members who deliver while on the BCBSTX plan are eligible to receive a $25 gift card upon timely completion of the postpartum visit.

Limitations: Members who have delivered on the STAR Kids plan must complete the postpartum visit 7 to 84 days after delivery. Members must be active on the plan to receive the gift card reward.

BCBSTX offers online prenatal classes to pregnant STAR Kids members, at no cost. You can take an online class at any time in English and 15 other languages.

You will get a diaper bag filled with new baby items when you finish your BCBSTX prenatal class. After you complete the prenatal class, fill out the certificate of completion found at the end of the lesson and fax it to 1-512-349-4867. The diaper bag reward will be shipped to the address you write on the certificate. Call Member Outreach to register for an online class.

Limitations: You must be an active BCBSTX STAR Kids member, be pregnant and take at least one prenatal class to get the diaper bag reward. Only one diaper bag per member will be awarded.

Pregnant members who register for the Special Beginnings maternity program will have access to breastfeeding education information provided by Special Beginnings nurses. The Special Beginnings maternity program can help you better understand and manage your pregnancy. When you register for Special Beginnings, you will get a Special Beginnings Service Manager. Your Service Manager is a specially trained nurse that will talk to you about how you and your baby are doing and will continue to call you up to six weeks after your baby is born.

If you are pregnant and would like to register for Special Beginnings, please call us toll-free at 1-888-421-7781 (TTY 711) or email Special Beginnings at TXSBMedicaid@bcbstx.com.

Ask your Special Beginnings Service Manager how you can qualify for your choice of a free infant car seat or pack and play playard and other VAS for pregnant women.

This program encourages pregnant women to get timely prenatal care. Pregnant STAR Kids members who complete a timely prenatal visit and register for our Special Beginnings program can choose an infant car seat or a pack and play playard.

Take the form to your doctor to sign during your prenatal visit and fax it to Member Outreach at 1-512-349-4867. The car seat or pack and play playard will be sent to the address you put on the form.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas will offer 11 hippotherapy or therapeutic riding sessions as a Value-Added Service (VAS) to STAR Kids members.

What is Hippotherapy?

Hippotherapy is a form of treatment that uses horses and their dynamic movement to achieve therapy goals. Many children with physical or behavioral health conditions may benefit from hippotherapy.

What is Therapeutic Riding?

Therapeutic riding services are a treatment that includes horse riding. They can be used to benefit a child’s social and interactive skills.

Members who meet riding qualifications may participate in a maximum of 11 Hippotherapy services or therapeutic riding services per year. The 11 sessions are:

• Up to a maximum of 1 hour in length each session
• Provided to children based on their medical clearance by their PCP

STAR Kids members are eligible for one program or the other. They cannot receive both hippotherapy and therapeutic riding.

Note: Value-Added Services may have restrictions and limitations. For a complete list of limitations, please refer to the Member Handbook or the Value-Added Services brochure.

STAR Kids members can access online Behavioral Health tools where they can login to get information that may help members get a better understanding of their specific behavioral health concerns. These online tools are extra services available to members 24/7.

Limitations: Members must have login information to utilize this service as provided by Case Management.

Members who have been discharged from inpatient care after a behavioral health visit are eligible to get a $25 gift card when they follow-up with their provider within seven days after a behavioral health hospitalization.

Limitations: Members must attend a follow-up visit with a behavioral health provider within seven days following a discharge for mental illness or intentional self-harm diagnoses. Members must be enrolled in the plan to receive the gift card.

If you have received a notice that you have earned a reward for going to your behavioral health follow-up visit, go to bcbstx.com/wellnessrewards to register to receive your gift card reward in the mail. 

BCBSTX offers Find Help, an online community resource where members can search for local community assistance with things such as rent, utilities and food. Members can also use Find Help to apply for assistance to any community-based programs or resources available on the site.

Limitations: Call Member Outreach at 1-877-375-9097 to get the link to the BCBSTX Find Help platform or find the link under the Plan Details, Value Added Services section of the CHIP website. All eligible members can complete a self-referral to any community resource available on the platform.

You can find community programs and resources at https://communityservices.bcbstx.com.

Our Blue365 program offers discounts on various pharmacy over the counter (OTC) and health and wellness related services and items. You can get access to health and wellness items and members. You can get access to health and wellness items and offerings at a lower cost, as well as take advantage of some free/no cost services. This VAS excludes benefits covered by STAR Kids.

Limitations: Members must register on the Blue365deals.com site for Texas. The information required for the registration process includes Name, Email, Password, ZIP Code, and alpha prefix. This alpha prefix for STAR Kids members is TXS.