ER/OR Information

A hospital-based physician performs medical services only in that hospital. They give care in specialties such as:

• Anesthesiology
• Pathology
• Radiology
• Emergency Medicine
• Neonatology

Please use these lists to help make informed decisions before you seek medical care. Using network healthcare providers as much as possible will lower your out-of-pocket costs.

• Alexandria
• Baton Rouge
• Lafayette
• Lake Charles
• Monroe
• New Orleans
• Shreveport

Surprise or balance billing is when an out-of-network provider bills you for more than what your plan pays a network provider for the same care.

When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at a network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.

Read more about your rights and protections against surprise billing or balance billing.

If you’re having surgery at a hospital or surgery center that accepts ambulance patients, and those places are in our network, make sure that physician is in our network.

If the physician is not in network, you should ask your surgeon if you can have the surgery done at another hospital in our network.

If you can't have the surgery done at a network hospital and you get billed for the difference between Blue Cross' payment and the provider's allowable charge, call the provider's office and ask if they will accept Blue Cross' allowable charge as full payment.

Read more about out-of-network hospital-based doctors.

If you have any questions, call Customer Service at the number on your member ID card, or use our secure online inquiry form to send us your question.

• Follow the instructions in your discharge summary. Before you leave the hospital, make sure you or a caregiver clearly understands your ER doctor’s instructions.
• Take all prescribed medicines according to your doctor’s instructions. Get clear written and oral instructions about how to take your medicine.
• Make an appointment to see your primary care doctor after your ER visit. You will likely need follow-up care or tests. If you don’t have a primary care doctor, find one in your network in our online directory at bcbsla.com/findcare.
• Follow your doctor’s instructions about when to resume normal activities.