Our medical policy coverage guidelines help ensure benefits are applied consistently to covered members. These guidelines include information on medical treatments and procedures, medical devices, drugs and biological products.

• AccessBlue members and iLinkBLUE providers can log on and view the guidelines.
• Register or log in to AccessBlue from every bcbsla.com webpage. Note that not all BCBSLA members are eligible for AccessBlue.

Guideline Development
Medical policy coverage guidelines are developed and updated whenever a new treatment or product is introduced or changed. Guidelines are developed using:

• Physician review
• Established medical peer-reviewed publications
• Evidence-based guidelines established by national medical organizations
• Technology Evaluation Center for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

Investigational Treatments
If a medical treatment, procedure or drug is listed as “investigational” in the guidelines, it does not meet all of the following criteria:

• Final approval from the appropriate government regulatory body
• Scientific evidence that confirms desired health outcomes
• Improvement of net health outcome
• Beneficial alternative to established treatment
• Improvement shown outside an investigational setting
• It has not been incorporated into standard medical practice 

Guideline Changes
We welcome input on our medical policy coverage guidelines from any medical professional who participates in our networks and who has peer-reviewed, scientific evidence-based literature to support changes to current guidelines.

• Members with questions should discuss them with their healthcare provider.
• Requests for changes must be sent in writing, along with supporting documentation, to:

Medical Director of Medical Policy
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
P.O. Box 98029
Baton Rouge, LA  70809