The 86th Texas Legislature directed ERS to explore the potential for innovative, value-based plan design models with health-related institutions in our state. MD Anderson quickly accepted the challenge and worked with ERS to fulfill this initiative. 

HealthSelect of Texas^® and Consumer Directed HealthSelect participants can get in-network preventive breast cancer screenings at no cost to them. Your breast cancer screening at MD Anderson’s Mobile Mammography Unit is treated as in-network preventive care, so you pay nothing for the screening.

To date, screenings have been performed at seven locations in the Houston area including: Lone Star College campuses, the Department of Public Safety Region 4 Campus, and offices of the Department of Family and Protective Services, Department of Health and Human Services and Texas Commission of Environmental Quality.  ERS posts information about screening dates and locations on its online wellness calendar.  Additional locations may be added in the future, depending on capacity.

Additional screening locations may be added through August 2019 if capacity and resources allow.

If MD Anderson’s Mobile Mammography Unit comes to your agency, your benefits coordinator or agency representative will send notifications before the event.

Your agency’s or institution’s human resources department can contact Lacy Wolff at lacy.wolff@ers.texas.gov (please copy wellness@ers.texas.gov). As ERS’ Health Promotion Administrator, Lacy is working with MD Anderson to coordinate potential future screening events.

You and/or your covered dependent(s) may be eligible to participate if you/they: 

• are actively enrolled in HealthSelect of Texas, HealthSelect Out-of-State or Consumer Directed HealthSelect as your primary health plan; 
• are not enrolled in Medicare as your primary health plan;
• had your/their last mammogram screening at least 12 months from the date of this mobile breast cancer screening mammogram; and
• meet other medical criteria. 

If you have questions about whether you or any of your covered dependents are eligible for a mobile breast cancer screening mammogram, please contact a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) Personal Health Assistant (PHA) toll-free at (800) 252-8039.
 

The recommended guidelines for a breast cancer screening mammogram are for participants between the ages of 40 and 74. If you are under age 40 or over age 74, a mobile breast cancer screening mammogram screening may be allowed in certain cases, based on your overall health and history. You should consult with your PCP when making the decision to have the screening. 

The mobile breast cancer screening mammogram is available only if you have not had a preventive screening mammogram within the past 12 months. If you are not sure when you had your last mammogram, please contact a BCBSTX PHA toll-free at (800) 252-8039 for assistance.

To register for a mobile breast cancer screening mammogram event near you, please contact MD Anderson at (713) 745-4000. When you call, be sure to tell MD Anderson which specific event location and date you would like. Also, please have your HealthSelect insurance card and your PCP’s name with you so you can provide that information, if necessary.

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please contact MD Anderson directly at (713) 745-4000.

Yes, when you are preparing for your appointment, please remember:

•  DO: wear a removable top.
• DO: bring your HealthSelect insurance card and a picture ID.   
• DON’T: apply lotion or powder to the breast or underarm area.
• DON’T:  wear perfume (you may apply deodorant sparingly, if necessary). 

When you first enter the mobile mammography unit, you will check-in at the desk.  During check-in, you will:

• review your demographic information,
• disclose your patient history and
• sign treatment consent and release forms.  

Once you have checked-in, you will wait until the next available screening.  Your overall appointment should take 20-30 minutes.   

Note: Mammography technologists are licensed with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and with the Texas Medical Board.  Dedicated breast radiologists are board-certified.  
 

After your visit, BCBSTX will process a claim.  After your claim has been processed, your EOB will be available in Blue Access for Members (BAM). Your EOB will show the date of the screening and the type of service you received.   

Note: If you have not registered for BAM, you may want to do so now at www.healthselectoftexas.com. Click on the “Log in” button (located top right on the screen), and then on the “Register now” link.  If you have questions about registering for a BAM account, call a BCBSTX PHA toll-free at (800) 252-8039. 
 

Yes. If you provided the name of your PCP when you registered for your screening with MD Anderson, your PCP will get a copy of the results. MD Anderson will also mail a letter to the address you provided. The letter will tell you if your screening results are normal, or if you need to make a follow-up appointment.

Note: If you need any copies of your mammogram results, please contact MD Anderson directly at (713) 745-4000.

If MD Anderson tells you that you need to make a follow-up appointment, contact your PCP to discuss next steps and schedule the visit.

Your PCP can assist you, but it is always a good idea to confirm that your mammography provider is in-network with BCBSTX.  To do that, visit www.healthselectoftexas.com and use the “Find a Doctor/Hospital” search tool. You can also always contact a BCBSTX PHA toll-free at (800) 252-8039. 

If you are enrolled in HealthSelect of Texas and your follow-up appointment is with your PCP, you do not need a referral (referrals are not required for PCP visits). 

However, if your PCP sends you to a specialist for follow-up care, your PCP will need to submit a referral to BCBSTX before you see the specialist. If you do not have a referral on file beforehand, you will pay more, because your visit will be considered out-of-network, even if the specialist is in the HealthSelect of Texas network. 

You can log into BAM at www.healthselectoftexas.com or by calling a BCBSTX PHA toll-free at (800)252-8039 to see if your referral is on file with BCBSTX.  

HealthSelect Out-of-State, HealthSelect Secondary, and Consumer Directed HealthSelect plans do not require referrals.
If you still have questions about the mobile breast cancer screening program in collaboration with MD Anderson, please contact a BCBSTX PHA toll-free at (800) 252-8039.