Skilled nursing facilities to follow new process to submit authorization requests for Blue Cross, BCN commercial members

Later this year, we’ll require skilled nursing facilities to submit authorization requests for members of our commercial plans through the e-referral system. Skilled nursing facilities will no longer be able to submit their requests by fax.

This updated submission process for skilled nursing facilities applies to requests for:

• Admissions
• Additional days

Sign up now to use e-referral system
To prepare for this change, it’s important that skilled nursing facilities sign up now for access to the e-referral system. Don’t wait to sign up, as it may take some time to get access.

You’ll also need to learn how to use the e-referral system, so you’re comfortable with it when this updated submission process goes into effect.

Everything you need to know is on our ereferrals.bcbsm.com website:

• To sign up for the e-referral system: Follow the instructions on the Sign up or change a user page.
• To learn how to use the e-referral system: Refer to the Training Tools page, where you’ll find the e-referral User Guide and Online Self-paced Learning Modules.

More information about the change
Currently, skilled nursing facilities are completing a form and submitting it by fax. When the new requirement goes into effect later this year, 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 change affects members of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network commercial plans.

Watch for more news about this change
We’ll communicate more details about this change in the coming weeks. Watch for web-DENIS messages as well as news items on our ereferrals.bcbsm.com website.