Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield

Moses Medical at 871B Westchester Ave in the Bronx is in-network for Empire BCBS Medicare Advantage. If your job gave you an Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield card, network status depends on the specific plan, so call (646) 741-2111 with your card and we will check it before your visit. Empire is one of the most common employer-sponsored plans in New York.

Your card will tell you which plan type you have. This matters because each type works differently. HMO and EPO plans require you to pick a primary care provider and get referrals for specialists. PPO plans let you see specialists directly. All three types cost less when you stay in-network.

Services Under Your Empire Plan

Depending on your plan, Empire BCBS may cover primary care and specialist visits at Moses Medical. Here is what is available in our building:

Routine and preventive care starts with primary care. Your provider handles annual physicals, immunizations, chronic condition management for things like diabetes and high blood pressure, and sick visits.

Focused care options include internal medicine for ongoing blood pressure, cholesterol, and chronic condition management, dermatology for skin conditions, podiatry for foot and ankle care, and mental health for mental health support.

We also have podiatry for foot and ankle care and can coordinate outside specialty referrals when your visit requires care beyond our current office services.

When your provider orders tests, our on-site lab helps keep follow-up simpler. If you need outside imaging, therapy, or hospital-level care, our team can help coordinate the referral and follow-up.

Setting Up Your First Visit

Step 1: Look at your Empire BCBS card. Find your plan type (HMO, PPO, or EPO) and your member ID number.

Step 2: If you have an HMO or EPO, call Empire at 1-800-553-9603 to ask whether this office is in network for your product and whether a Moses Medical provider can be named as your primary care provider. Your PCP handles referrals to any specialist in our practice.

Step 3: PPO plans generally let you book without a referral. Check your plan’s network before you book, since you save money by staying in network.

Step 4: Bring your Empire BCBS card and a photo ID to check-in. Staff can run an eligibility check and tell you what the plan reports, though an eligibility response is not a guarantee that a service will be paid.

Step 5: If your visit requires prior authorization, the office can file the request with Empire on your behalf, and Empire decides the outcome.

Benefits Worth Using

Federal rules require most employer plans to cover an in-network annual preventive visit at no cost to you. This includes age-appropriate screenings, blood panels, and a wellness assessment. Many members skip it. A 30-minute checkup can flag high blood pressure, abnormal bloodwork, or early warning signs your provider wants to follow up on.

If you have Empire Medicare Advantage, check whether your plan includes extras beyond Original Medicare. Many do. Vision, dental, hearing, and wellness programs are common add-ons that most members never use. Call Empire or log into empireblue.com to see what you have.

Empire generally covers mental health visits the same way it covers a medical visit. At our office that means evaluation, medication questions or management when appropriate, and referral planning for therapy or counseling when needed. On HMO plans, your PCP writes a referral. On PPO, you book directly.

For heart health questions, ask the care team to review your blood pressure, cholesterol, and risk factors at your next primary care visit.

Call (646) 741-2111 to schedule your appointment or walk in during office hours.