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BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MASSACHUSETTS CONTINUES INNOVATION WITH SUITE OF AFFORDABLE NEW PRODUCTS FOR 2023

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BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MASSACHUSETTS CONTINUES INNOVATION WITH SUITE OF AFFORDABLE NEW PRODUCTS FOR 2023


Choices embrace expanded entry to digital and in-person care, no- and low-cost pharmacy advantages, new digital options, and interactive continual situation administration packages

BOSTON, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Blue Cross Blue Defend of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) is saying a set of progressive new choices that present entry to high-quality, reasonably priced well being care with an unparalleled member expertise.

“Inexpensive well being care choices that make it straightforward to get the care you want when and the place you need to are prime of thoughts for our clients and members proper now,” stated Blue Cross Vice President of Product Deanne Wherry. “That is why we’re happy to introduce new versatile medical and pharmacy advantages that our clients can tailor to their worker populations to extend entry to high-quality, reasonably priced well being care.”  

The brand new choices embrace:

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  • Digital Main Care: This program allows eligible members to obtain complete, handy care by way of a digital staff—led by a major care supplier—that may deal with their bodily and psychological well being wants for a $0 price share.
  • Totally Insured Unique Supplier Group (EPO) Plans: These three new plans give members entry to Blue Cross’ intensive nationwide community, with greater than 1 million physicians and 6,000 hospitals within the U.S. and Puerto Rico, with out requiring them to designate a PCP or get hold of a referral for specialist visits.
  • $0 Visits for Retail Clinics: This non-compulsory characteristic permits members to obtain take care of acute sicknesses at retail clinics, resembling CVS MinuteClinics®, for free of charge. Clinics are sometimes staffed by nurse practitioners and might present vaccinations, prognosis and remedy of minor circumstances, and yearly wellness exams.
  • New CVS Caremark® Applications: Blue Cross will companion with CVS Caremark to simplify the pharmacy expertise, enhance well being outcomes and decrease prices for members and clients. Under are a number of the new packages that shall be efficient on January 1, 2023, by way of this partnership:
    • No-Value Generic Drugs: To make it simpler for members to afford and take their prescribed drugs, Blue Cross is making choose generic drugs – for treating melancholy, excessive ldl cholesterol, diabetes, coronary heart illness and hypertension – obtainable with no price share to members
    • Value Share Help Program: This program gives members with producer coupons to cut back the price of choose specialty drugs. As soon as members are enrolled, most or all of their out-of-pocket prices shall be lined with none modifications to their pharmacy or medicine supply service.
    • Pharmacy Advisor: To assist members take their drugs as prescribed, this program identifies members with sure continual circumstances and gives them with in-person or digital teaching.
    • Drug Financial savings Evaluate: This program assists suppliers in figuring out drugs that may assist enhance affected person outcomes and save members cash.
    • Medical Value Avoidance: To assist decrease member prices, cut back hospital readmissions, and enhance well being outcomes, this program affords customized reminders through telephone, textual content or e-mail to make sure members get beneficial well being screenings and vaccinations.
    • Rework Diabetes Care: This program affords members with Kind 1 and Kind 2 diabetes in-person or digital counseling with a diabetes care staff from CVS Caremark, in addition to digital reminders about their drugs and beneficial screenings.
  • Constancy Well being Reimbursement Preparations and Versatile Spending Accounts: To offer clients with extra well being monetary account decisions, Blue Cross well being plans can now be paired with a Constancy well being reimbursement association (HRA) or versatile spending account (FSA), constructing on the Constancy well being financial savings account (HSA) partnership Blue Cross launched final 12 months.
  • BlueFit: Earlier this 12 months Blue Cross launched BlueFit, an reasonably priced, digital-first consumer-directed well being plan that gives members financial savings and rewards for making wholesome decisions, together with complete in-person and telehealth protection.

All choices can be found to Blue Cross clients January 1, 2023, on anniversary, until famous in any other case. Program availability and prices fluctuate primarily based on a number of elements, together with employer measurement, funding association, and plan design.

About Blue Cross Blue Defend of Massachusetts 
Blue Cross Blue Defend of Massachusetts (bluecrossma.org) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit well being plan headquartered in Boston. We’re dedicated to the relentless pursuit of high quality, reasonably priced and equitable well being care with an unparalleled client expertise. Per our promise to all the time put our members first, we’re rated among the many nation’s finest well being plans for member satisfaction and high quality. Join with us on FbTwitterYouTube, and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Defend of Massachusetts





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Massachusetts

2 of the largest fairs in North America are in Massachusetts

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2 of the largest fairs in North America are in Massachusetts


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One saw record-breaking attendance in 2024.

Children on a ride at The Big E.

If you attended The Big E or the Topsfield Fair this past fall, you were in good company.


  • These New England hotels, restaurants, and more are ‘must visit spots’ in 2025, according to USA Today readers

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Both Massachusetts fairs ranked among the top 50 fairs in the U.S. and Canada in 2024, according to Carnival Warehouse. The list was ranked by attendance.

“2024 contained very positive indicators that North Americans have rekindled their romance for midways, outdoor shows, agricultural programming and food-on-a-stick,” wrote Carnival Warehouse on its website. “Most fairs saw increases over last year’s attendance, only 12 top-50 fairs saw decreases, most of which were nominal and all of which were due to weather.”

The Big E (the Eastern States Exposition) in Springfield ranked No. 4 with an all-time total attendance record of more than 1.6 million visitors. Seven other daily attendance records were also set this year at The Big E, including an all-time single day attendance record of 178,608 visitors on Sept. 21. The Topsfield Fair, at No. 40, saw 418,170 visitors.

Running since 1916, The Big E is New England’s biggest fair. The fair brought live musical acts, carnival rides, agricultural competitions, and food vendors this past September. All six New England states are famously represented on its grounds.

The Topsfield Fair, America’s oldest agricultural fair (running for more than 200 years), featured carnival rides, food, live music, rodeos, art shows, exhibits, and nearly 300 vendors this past October.

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For those looking to help boost attendance in 2025, this year’s fair dates are Sept. 12-28 for The Big E and Oct. 3-13 for the Topsfield Fair.

North America’s No. 1 fair in 2024 is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which saw 2.5 million visitors.

Check out the top 50 fairs in the U.S. and Canada in 2024.

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Kristi Palma

Culture writer

 

Kristi Palma is a culture writer for Boston.com, focusing on New England travel. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.





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‘Lives are on the line': Mass. native living in Calif. describes wildfires

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‘Lives are on the line': Mass. native living in Calif. describes wildfires


As wildfires continue to spread through Los Angeles County, some from Massachusetts now living in California are faced with the likelihood of evacuations.

“Our bags are packed and we’re ready to go somewhere else if we have to,” said Justin Bitensky.

The native of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, now lives in Calabasas, a city impacted by the wildfires.

“As a dad and a husband, it definitely hits a little different,” he said.

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According to Bitensky, 70mph winds whipped through his neighborhood Tuesday night.

Since then, his family has been without power.

“At this point, everyone kind of knows someone who has been evacuated, or their home has burned down, or both,” he explained. “There’s almost no one who hasn’t been affected.”

The mortgage broker added that his family is waiting to see which roads remain open if evacuations do come to fruition.

“Lives are on the line, homes are on the line, people’s businesses are on the line,” Bitensky said. “I don’t think it can be understated how serious it is.”

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At Boston’s Logan Airport Wednesday, passengers who flew in from LA described the inferno from the sky.

“You could look out the window and see the flames burning,” explained Amy Aldrich of western Massachusetts. “You could see the black smoke. We could smell it. My daughter and I smelled it and said, ‘That smells like wildfire smoke.’”

“A lot of people got on planes to start heading kind of west and all,” said Cam Mahseni of Boston. “A buddy of mine, Chris, is in Pasadena, and he had to kind of evacuate, and a power line went down, too, outside his house.”

“From the highway, we saw the fire and the big smoke,” another passenger added. “It’s like a movie.”

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MBTA Communities Law is constitutional, Massachusetts SJC rules

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MBTA Communities Law is constitutional, Massachusetts SJC rules


MBTA Communities Law is constitutional, Massachusetts SJC rules – CBS Boston

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The controversial​ MBTA Communities Law is constitutional, the high court ruled, but changes are needed. WBZ-TV’s Tiffany Chan reports.

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