DURHAM, N.C. – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) and Teladoc Health, Inc. (NYSE: TDOC) announced the rollout of Teladoc Health’s comprehensive virtual care platform to select Blue Cross NC employers and members.

Through the expanded collaboration, Teladoc Health’s full suite of chronic care management solutions -  diabetes, hypertension, diabetes prevention and mental health - is available. These expanded offerings support Blue Cross NC’s commitment to make health care better, simpler, and more affordable by providing members with easy access to care virtually.

“For more than two decades, Blue Cross NC has provided convenient access to quality virtual care solutions,” said Dr. Roberta Capp, MD, MHS, Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross NC. “Through our collaboration with Teladoc Health, we can continue to offer more equitable access to chronic disease digital solutions regardless of physical location and work to make health care better for all North Carolinians.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in the number of people reporting symptoms of depression and anxiety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that people with depression or mental health disorders are also at high risk for contracting severe COVID-19. Blue Cross NC data shows the top two most common virtual visits in 2021 were for diabetes and behavioral health management.

Members on most Blue Cross NC individual and fully insured group plans will have access to Teladoc Health’s virtual platform for acute care and behavioral health services. Teladoc Health’s full suite of chronic care management solutions, such as Livongo for diabetes and myStrength for behavioral health, will be available to self-funded employers starting in 2022. These digital solutions help members manage chronic conditions in a way that prevents avoidable ER visits and hospital admissions.

Blue Cross NC recently extended its expanded telehealth policy, which will remain in place through March 31, 2022. The policy covers doctor visits by video or phone the same as face-to-face visits. Blue Cross NC will continue to refine its policy to best serve its members with a focus on improving health care outcomes, increasing access to health care, and lowering costs.

During the pandemic, telehealth usage surged by more than 7,500% among Blue Cross NC members. Through increased access to Teladoc Health’s virtual care services, people can receive more comprehensive care anywhere. According to a recent survey, 40 percent of Teladoc Health members who received behavioral and mental health treatment said they would not have received care without a virtual option.  

“The expanded reach of Teladoc Health’s partnership with Blue Cross NC fundamentally transforms care for members by delivering whole-person care,” said Kelly Bliss, Teladoc Health President, U.S. Group Health. “This is a great example of how innovative organizations can provide greater access to proven solutions that address acute care while also supporting ongoing health needs.” 

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is committed to making health care better, simpler and more affordable. We have been driving better health in North Carolina since 1933, working to tackle our communities’ greatest health challenges. Blue Cross NC serves its customers and communities of more than 4.2 million members, including approximately 1.1 million on behalf of other Blue Plans. Blue Cross NC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross NC online at www.bluecrossnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

About Teladoc Health 
Teladoc Health empowers all people everywhere to live their healthiest lives by transforming the healthcare experience. As the world leader in whole-person virtual care, Teladoc Health uses proprietary health signals and personalized interactions to drive better health outcomes across the full continuum of care, at every stage in a person’s health journey. Ranked best in KLAS for Virtual Care Platforms in 2020 and #1 among direct-to-consumer telehealth providers in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Telehealth Satisfaction Study, Teladoc Health leverages more than a decade of expertise and data-driven insights to meet the growing virtual care needs of consumers and healthcare professionals. For more information, please visit www.teladochealth.com or follow @TeladocHealth on Twitter. 

Teladoc Health Media Contact: 
Carolyn Edwards 
pr@teladochealth.com  
321-795-1952