CommercialAdministrativeMedium impact
PAP904 - Service Availability and Access to Care - Updated Access to Care table, revised last paragraph.
Blue Cross of Idaho·ID · Behavioral Health, Psychiatry·Medical Policy
Effective date
Jan 1, 2026
We identified it
Jun 19, 2026
Summary
Blue Cross of Idaho updated their Service Availability and Access to Care policy (PAP904), revising the Access to Care table with new appointment scheduling timeframes and updating requirements for provider availability. This affects how quickly providers must schedule different types of appointments and emergency coverage arrangements.
Action Required
Immediately: Review and update appointment scheduling procedures to comply with revised timeframes: Initial routine visits within 10 business days, follow-up routine care within 30 business days, non-emergency medical attention within 7 business days, and emergency/urgent services with immediate access (6 hours for non-life threatening emergency, 48 hours for urgent care). Update front desk staff on new scheduling requirements and ensure 24-hour on-call coverage arrangements are documented and communicated to patients.