What we’re doing

Medical Equipment Coverage

As good stewards of our members’ premium dollars, we’re constantly looking for ways to deliver savings without compromising quality of care. One area we identified to help relieve healthcare cost burdens on our members is durable medical equipment (DME) and medical supplies.

What you need to know

Beginning March 6, 2026, a new vendor will manage our medical equipment network. CareCentrix (CCX) will help us deliver overall savings to employer groups and lower our members’ out-of-pocket costs.

This change will affect all BlueCross networks, but the transition should be seamless for our members.

About CareCentrix

•CareCentrix has suppliers capable of serving all 95 counties across all our lines of business, including TennCare (Medicaid) recipients.
•Their network meets all state and federal access requirements.

What this means

Members will still be able to get medical equipment like oxygen tanks, diabetic supplies and more with no interruption. They’ll be transitioned to a provider in the new CareCentrix network and will keep the same in-network benefits for their DME, often with lower out-of-pocket costs. In some cases, the brand or packaging of members’ equipment may change; but they’ll be the same types of supplies members use now.

As part of this transition, some DME providers will leave our network. The CareCentrix network is broad enough to serve all our members, and we’re confident in their ability to provide high-quality care while delivering much-needed savings.

However, if a member chooses to use a medical equipment provider that is no longer in network, they’ll have a higher out-of-pocket cost for their equipment.

Contact us

If you need additional assistance, we’re here to help:

•Call BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee at 1-888-423-9489 or visit bcbst.com.
•Visit HealthCare.gov, or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).
•Find in-person help from an assister, agent or broker in your community at LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

For Members

One of the most important things we can do for our members and customers is to help manage the rising costs of health care. Moving to the CareCentrix durable medical equipment network is one way we’re slowing cost increases while making sure members have access to care.

For our Commercial members, using an in-network CareCentrix medical equipment provider will result in significant cost-savings and keep their out-of-pocket costs as low as possible.

Yes, if you have Marketplace coverage or a BlueCare^SM, TennCareSelect, CoverKids or BlueCare Plus Tennessee plan, you must use an in-network provider. Your benefits don’t cover out-of-network providers or services. We’ll connect you with a new DME provider in the new network.
For Commercial, FEP and Medicare Advantage members, if your current provider doesn’t join the CareCentrix network, you can continue seeing them; but you’ll have to pay more for your care because your provider will no longer be in network. Getting your supplies from an in-network durable medical equipment provider is the most cost-effective way to get the services you need.

For Providers

Our members will still get the durable medical equipment supplies they need. In some cases, they may come from a different in-network provider, but this won’t affect the care they receive.

For prior authorization (PA) requests, we’ll continue reviewing internally from now until approximately June 1, 2026. CareCentrix (CCX) will review PA requests for all products and lines of business later this year.

Durable medical equipment is a product, not patient care. So, the cost of certain products is often negotiated and can be lower for the same type of DME. For example, a member can get the same nebulizer from one supplier or another. The item is the same, but the cost may be lower depending on where the member gets the product.

Members are getting the same equipment, but at a lower overall cost. This helps us provide members with more cost-effective ways to manage their medical care and lowers overall costs for our group customers.