BlueCross BlueShield Member Story

DME Support For A Member With Autism

Tom is a 17-year-old member in Cook County who has Autism and multiple medical needs. He was recently enrolled in the Autism Care Coordination Specialty Program. His mother, who is also his primary caregiver and power of attorney, shared that she had been paying out-of-pocket for his specialized nutritional shakes and incontinence supplies for years. Due to juggling his appointments and daily care, she didn’t have the time or energy to search for alternatives.

The BCBSIL Case Management Specialist stepped in and worked closely with both Tom’s mother and various DME support teams to track down vendors that could meet his specific needs, including finding the right size for incontinence supplies that weren’t readily available through the main suppliers. They also made sure any requests went through the correct providers.

The BCBSIL team also explained that their OTC benefits could cover wipes, which was another ongoing expense the family had been handling on their own.

Just recently, the family got the good news that the nutritional shakes were approved. Tom’s mom was so relieved to be saving nearly $100 a month. She shared how grateful she was and said she finally felt confident that they could get the help they needed moving forward. Now, her son has the supplies he needs to stay safe and well cared for at home.