Prior Authorization Code Changes for Commercial Members Effective Oct. 1

06/28/2024

What’s New: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas will be updating its lists of codes requiring prior authorization, for some commercial members, to reflect new, replaced or removed codes. These changes are based on updates from Utilization Management prior authorization assessment, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code changes released by the American Medical Association or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System changes from the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services.

Changes effective Oct. 1, 2024 include:

  • Addition of Genetic Testing codes to be reviewed by Carelon Medical Benefits Management
  • Removal of Genetic Testing codes previously reviewed by Carelon
  • Replacement of a Medical Oncology drug code reviewed by Carelon
  • Addition of Medical Oncology codes to be reviewed by Carelon
  • Removal of Specialty Drug codes previously reviewed by BCBSTX

More Information: Refer to Prior Authorization Lists on the Utilization Management section of our provider website, Revised lists can be found on the Prior Authorization Lists for Fully Insured and Administrative Services Only Plans.

Check Eligibility and Benefits: To identify if a service requires prior authorization for our members, check eligibility and benefits through Availity® Essentials or your preferred vendor.

Avoid post-service medical necessity reviews and delays in claim processing by obtaining prior authorization before rendering services. If prior authorization is required, services performed without prior authorization or that do not meet medical necessity criteria may be denied for payment and the rendering provider may not seek reimbursement from the member.

CPT copyright 2023 American Medical Association (AMA). All rights reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the AMA.

Carelon Medical Benefits Management (Carelon) is an independent company that has contracted with BCBSTX to provide utilization management services for members with coverage through BCBSTX. Availity is a trademark of

Availity, LLC, a separate company that operates a health information network to provide electronic information exchange services to medical professionals. Availity provides administrative services to BCBSTX.

BCBSTX makes no endorsement, representations or warranties regarding any products or services provided by third party vendors.