24/7 live online doctor visits will soon be available for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska customers

A fever in the middle of the night? Sick at work? Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) customers will soon be able to see a doctor anytime, anywhere in the U.S. without leaving their home or work.

BCBSNE is bringing American Well®’s (also known as Amwell) telehealth services to our customers starting January 1, 2016.

“This is another step in our ongoing commitment to making health care more accessible and convenient, especially in rural Nebraska,” Dr. Joann Schaefer, BCBSNE’s senior vice president and chief medical officer said.  “We believe telehealth services like Amwell have the potential to lower costs by providing access to early intervention and prevention.”

Customers of BCBSNE individual and small group plans will be able to talk with a physician on Amwell at anytime from anywhere in the U.S. via computer, tablet or phone.  Large employers and many self-funded groups will have the telehealth option when they renew their health plan starting in 2016.  Telehealth technology will also be available to Nebraska clinics involved in patient focused contracts.

“Insurers are looking to telehealth as a way to reduce costs and provide greater value to members in the communities they serve, by making the choice of seeing an in-network doctor as convenient as downloading Amwell, logging on, and having a visit in minutes,” said Danielle Russella, president, customer solutions, American Well. “Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska’s approach to patient-focused care using telehealth is yet another innovative way to put the consumer in charge of their health and well-being.”

Here’s how it works:

• BCBSNE customers register by downloading the free Amwell app on their mobile device from the Apple App Store or Google Play, visit nebraskablue.com/telehealth, or call 844-SEE-DOCS (844-733-3627)
• Customers enter their payment method when they register with a credit, debit or HSA/FSA card
• When ready to use the service, customers can log in and select the doctor they want to see
• Amwell doctors will suggest follow up care when necessary, and can e-prescribe medications to the customer’s pharmacy of choice when appropriate and where available

The doctor on Amwell will have safe and secure access to customer information, and the interaction automatically creates a record that can be shared with a primary care provider.

The Amwell telehealth platform has met the physical, network, and process security measures required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

The virtual experience can be used for the treatment of most common issues like sinus infection, abdominal pain, cold, pinkeye, flu, ear infections, fever, migraines, rashes and more.

About BCBSNE

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska is a community-based, member-owned health insurance company serving Nebraskans for more than 75 years. BCBSNE is committed to protecting Nebraska families and is leading the way in supporting patient-focused care.  BCBSNE is the state’s largest health insurance company, and the only one headquartered in Nebraska. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About American Well

American Well is transforming the way healthcare is delivered through telehealth. We make online doctor visits accessible to everyone for one-off care issues like colds or infections, and chronic condition management, such as diabetes or depression. We deliver healthcare into people’s homes and workplaces through our work with top health plans, health systems and employers, as well as our telehealth app, Amwell. A patient using Amwell can be connected to a board-certified doctor of their choosing in just minutes for a visit carried out over smartphone, tablet, kiosk, phone, or desktop.

American Well and Amwell are trademarks of American Well Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners. For more information on our services, visit www.americanwell.com. To download Amwell and have a doctor visit now, visit www.amwell.com.