UPDATE: BCBSIL Delays Avalon Lab Program

Memorandum

Earlier this afternoon, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) informed IHA that it will delay implementation of the Lab Benefit Management (LBM) program for its commercial, fully insured non-HMO products, which was scheduled to launch on May 1.  This decision comes two days after IHA and the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network sent a joint letter to BCBSIL outlining the serious concerns raised by member hospitals and health systems regarding the LBM program, including the potentially dangerous barriers to patient care and undue administrative burden on providers.  BCBSIL indicated their interest to engage in conversations with IHA and ICAHN to better understand member concerns.

We will share additional details as they become available.

For questions regarding this memo, please contact Helena Lefkow at 312-906-6008 or hlefkow@team-iha.org.