America's Benefit Specialist August/September 2023

PRODUCT NEWS

The addition of a peer specialist support benefit in fully insured commercial health plans for 2024 is subject to regu latory review and approval of the Minnesota Department of Commerce (Blue Cross products) and the Minnesota Depart ment of Health (Blue Plus products.) Self-insured commercial groups will have the option to add peer specialist support coverage to the health plan benefit design starting with the 2024 plan year.

The enhanced coverage comes as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recent ly released a new National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification, a directive from the Biden administration’s strategy to address the nation’s mental health crisis an nounced in March 2022. All peer support specialists covered by Blue Cross will be credentialed according to the new national certification model standards. The benefit, which will be available at no cost to members when coordinated by an in-network provider, takes effect with plans beginning on or after January 1, 2024. Blue Cross will be the first non-profit plan in Minnesota offering this benefit to those with employer-offered health insurance as well as to those who purchase individual and family coverage on their own. Blue Plus, the HMO arm of Blue Cross, has been adminis tering a peer support specialist benefit since it first became available in 2009 for members enrolled in health programs offered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Minnesota. In 2022, Blue Cross began discussions with DHS on best practices to develop similar coverage for Blue Plus members enrolled in commercial individual and family plans as well as Blue Cross members with coverage through fully insured employer-based plans. The peer support specialist is a non-clinical position that is uniquely trained to utilize one’s own lived experiences and care navigation journey to support others. The role is proven to be effective in helping with a range of difficult circumstances, specifically with those who feel at a loss and believe their situation falls outside the realm of ‘traditional’ healthcare. This sense of isolation can result in people de laying treatment or feeling unsure of where to turn for help, which Blue Cross and the federal government are working to address through increased opportunities for peer specialist support. Blue Cross’ coverage will encompass the following areas: • Certified Family Peer Specialists—have raised or are raising a child with a mental health or substance use disorder, providing non-clinical support to strengthen the family and increase parents’ ability to support the treatment goals of the child • Certified Peer Specialists—have had a mental health diagnosis and are available to assist members with their recovery journey • Peer Recovery Specialists – have had a substance use diagnosis and are available to assist members with their recovery journey 140 agencies currently employ peer support specialists throughout Minnesota. Blue Cross anticipates that care systems will have the opportunity to onboard additional peer specialists in order to meet increased demand.

INSURANCE SOFTWARE AUTOMATION LAUNCHES AI-POWERED TOOL TO MAKE UNDERWRITING EASIER FOR LIFE INSURANCE AGENTS Insurance Software Automation has released a new version of its flagship product, Best Plan Pro. Best Plan Pro 2.0 lever ages linguistic and pattern-driven AI to help life insurance agents pre-qualify their clients. Best Plan Pro’s patent-pending technology uses AI to compare dozens of insurance products instantly and provide agents with quotes and product recommendations based on a client’s medical conditions and the underwriting criteria of the carrier. Version 2.0 couples Best Plan Pro’s tech with an upgraded interface and data-entry system to provide agents with a su perior user experience, faster processing and more accurate product recommendations. Now agents can automatically pre-qualify a client for final expense, term life or Medicare supplement products in seconds. Zachary Bornheimer, lead developer of Best Plan Pro, says his goal is to leverage linguistic and pattern-driven AI to help agents make better decisions: “We’ve let our system learn and evolve over the last few years. If there’s a new medication or new typo, AI learns from it. We have so much data now that Best Plan Pro 2.0 can infer what medication or condition someone is trying to find and fix typos instantly. It adapts to every carrier’s requirements and finds the most appropriate products for clients. If an agent doesn’t know something, the system does.” For more information, visit bestplanpro.com/about-2.0 or email press@bestplanpro.com.

CURATIVE EXPANDS TO HOUSTON METRO AREA Curative Insurance Company, provider of a no copay, no deductible health plan, is expanding its fully insured benefit offering to the Houston metro area to serve employers in all of Harris County as well as any of their employees nationwide.

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