Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield

If your job gave you an Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield card, you are covered at our practice. Moses Medical at 871B Westchester Ave in the Bronx is in-network for Empire BCBS HMO, PPO, EPO, and Medicare Advantage plans. Empire is one of the most common employer-sponsored plans in New York, and we work with it daily.

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

Empire BCBS covers primary care and specialist visits at Moses Medical. Here is what you can access in our building:

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

Specialist services include cardiology for heart health evaluations and EKGs, dermatology for skin conditions and screenings, behavioral health for therapy and psychiatric care, and pain management for back, joint, and nerve pain.

We also have podiatry for foot and ankle care, ophthalmology for medical eye exams and glaucoma checks, ENT for ear, nose, and throat conditions, and women’s health for gynecological exams and reproductive care.

When your provider orders tests, our on-site lab and radiology departments process most results the same day. Physical therapy for rehab and recovery is available in the building. If you need general surgery, our team coordinates the referral and follow-up from here.

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, choose a Moses Medical doctor as your primary care provider. You can do this by calling Empire at 1-800-553-9603 or by telling our front desk when you arrive. Your PCP will handle referrals to any specialist in our practice.

Step 3: If you have a PPO, you can book any appointment directly. No referral needed. You will still save money by staying in-network.

Step 4: Bring your Empire BCBS card and a photo ID to check-in. Our staff runs your eligibility electronically and tells you your copay before you see the doctor.

Step 5: If your visit requires prior authorization (some imaging and surgical procedures do), our office files the request with Empire on your behalf.

Benefits Worth Using

Your Empire plan covers an annual preventive visit at zero copay. 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 doctor 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 pays for behavioral health visits the same way it pays for a medical visit. Therapy and psychiatric appointments are part of your plan. On HMO plans, your PCP writes a referral. On PPO, you book directly.

For information about heart screenings and when they make sense, read our guide on when to see a cardiologist.

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