Reminder: Skilled nursing facilities must sign up for e-referral to submit authorization requests; training available

We’re reminding skilled nursing facilities to sign up for e-referral as soon as possible. SNFs must submit authorization requests for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan commercial and Blue Care Network commercial members through the e-referral system, starting Dec. 1, 2020.

We communicated this information in the September Record. If you haven’t already, sign up now. It may take some time to gain access to the system.

Currently, SNFs complete a form and submit it by fax. When the new requirement goes into effect in December, you’ll still need to complete the form, but you’ll attach it to the request in the e-referral system instead of faxing it. This requirement will apply to requests for admissions and requests for additional SNF days.

Information on how to sign up is on our eferrals.bcbsm.com website.

In addition, here are some new details you need to know:

• It’s important for SNFs to use the online training tools to familiarize themselves with the e-referral system.
• We’re offering supplemental webinar overviews of the e-referral system.

Use the online tools to learn the e-referral system — before attending a webinar
Visit the Training Tools page of our ereferrals.bcbsm.com website for:

• e-referral User Guide
• Online Self-paced learning modules

It’s important that you use the online tools to learn how to use the e-referral system before attending a webinar — especially:

• Checking member eligibility and benefits
• Submitting an inpatient authorization request
• Attaching a document to the authorization request

Sign up for a webinar overview of the e-referral system
To supplement what you learned through the online tools, we’re also offering training opportunities that are tailored to SNFs. Each webinar is 1 hour and 30 minutes and includes time for questions and answers.
Register for one of the e-referral Overview for Skilled Nursing Facilities webinars by clicking on the appropriate link below.