Sept. 23, 2025
Viscosupplementation for treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip, knee or any other joint does not meet member benefit certificate coverage criteria.
What’s changing: Benefit coverage of viscosupplementation for treatment of osteoarthritis will be discontinued effective Jan. 1, 2026. However, some members on maintenance injections may continue to receive coverage for therapy through 2026. Impacted members will be notified.
This change applies to most commercial members. Federal Employee Program Members and government program members are excluded.
Important Reminders
Always check eligibility and benefits through Availity® Essentials or your preferred vendor portal, prior to rendering services. This step will confirm prior authorization requirements and utilization management vendors, if applicable.
Availity is a trademark of Availity, LLC, a separate company that operates a health information network to provide electronic information exchange services to medical professionals. Availity provides administrative services to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. BCBSIL makes no endorsement, representations or warranties regarding third-party vendors and the products and services offered by them.