Reminder: Elimination of paper remittance advices, changes to Electronic Remittance Advice and Electronic Funds Transfer

Elimination of paper remittance advices
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan recently published several communications about the implementation of changes that align with the Affordable Care Act-mandated EFT Standard and CAQH/CORE EFT-ERA Operating Rules, which take effect Jan. 1, 2014.

As part of our efforts to align with these mandates, BCBSM and Blue Care Network will eliminate paper remittance advices (also known as vouchers), effective Dec. 6, 2013.

The only paper remittance advices that will continue to be mailed will be for:

• BCBSM local facilities
• Out-of-state providers paid through the Medicare crossover process
• BCN out-of-state providers (through mid-2014)

If a provider identification number is not registered with your Provider Secured Services ID, you will not see online remittance advices for those affiliated claims. This applies to both paper and electronic claims submissions.

To add PINs, complete one of the forms you'll find at the following links:

• If you’re a Blues participating professional or facility provider, click here.
• If you’re a billing service, click here.

All providers in the state of Michigan and those outside the state that have a contract with BCBSM or BCN have the ability to access online remittance advices for the Blues. Professional providers, hospitals or facilities that do not have access to Provider Secured Services need to enroll to obtain access before enrolling for Electronic Funds Transfer or to view online remittance advices (vouchers). 

More information about the discontinuation of paper remittance advices is available in the November Record.

Changes to electronic remittance advice and electronic funds transfer

• CORE 382 ERA Enrollment Data Rule mandates that health plans are required to offer electronic enrollment for 835/ERA at a minimum and must use standardized templates to collect data for these enrollments
• CORE 360 standardizes the use of adjustment reason and remark codes in the 835/ERA transaction into four different business scenarios
• The new listing of codes, organized by business scenario, is available on the CAQH/CORE website
• CORE 370 EFT and ERA Reassociation (CCD+/835) Rule mandates delivery of an ERA and EFT within three business days of each other if you’re set up for both. 
• CORE 380 EFT Enrollment Data Rule mandates that health plans offer EFT to all providers and must use standardized templates to collect data for these enrollments.
• BCBSM and BCN require all professional providers to use electronic funds transfer. If you’re not, please follow these online instructions to begin receiving electronic payments from the Blues. All BCBSM PINs associated with the NPIs for which you submit claims must be registered for EFT
  
  Note to Blue Care Network hospitals and facilities: If you enrolled for EFT directly with BCN, you’ll need to enroll with BCBSM through Provider Secured Services.
  
  Note to BCBSM Medicare Advantage and Medicare Plus Blue providers: In the November Record article on this topic, we should have noted that if you use the same NPI or PINs for both BCBSM and MA and are already registered for BCBSM EFT, you do not need to register separately for MA to begin to receive payment via EFT. 

Providers should work with BCBSM and their software vendor or clearinghouse before Jan. 1 to ensure that they are properly registered, enrolled and electronically capable of handling the changes.

For more information, see the article on ERA and EFT in the November 2013 Record.

Corrections to November Record article:

• The CORE 382 ERA Enrollment Data Rule was incorrectly reported as the rule for both ERA and EFT enrollment. The correct rule for EFT is the CORE 380 EFT Enrollment Data Rule.
• The “Note for Blue Care Network providers” should have read: “Note for Blue Care Network hospitals and facilities.”

Need help?

• If you need help accessing online remittance advices or signing up for Provider Secured Services or Electronic Funds Transfer, contact your BCBSM provider consultant or BCN provider representative.
  
  For technical assistance, you also can call the BCBSM Web Support Help Desk at 1-877-258-3932, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• For questions or help with 835/ERA, contact the BCBSM EDI Help Desk at 1-800-542-0945, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.