Oncology management program to include MESSA group members, starting Jan. 1, 2022

Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, MESSA will opt in to the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan utilization management program for medical oncology medications.

This means that for dates of service on or after Jan. 1, 2022, providers will need to request prior authorization from AIM Specialty Health^® for certain medical oncology and supportive care medications for MESSA group members.

To ensure continuity of care, MESSA members already receiving these medications as of Dec. 31, 2021, will be automatically authorized through June 30, 2022.

Note: AIM, an independent company, manages authorizations for medical oncology drugs. It doesn’t manage those drugs when prescribed for non-oncology diagnoses. When prescribing these drugs for non-oncology diagnoses for dates of service on or after Jan. 1, don’t submit the prior authorization request to AIM. Instead, fax all clinical documentation to the Blue Cross Pharmacy Help Desk at 1-866-915-9187.

How to submit authorization requests to AIM

Submit authorization requests to AIM using one of the following methods:

• Through the AIM ProviderPortal**
• By calling the AIM Contact Center at 1-844-377-1278

More about authorization requirements

Authorization isn’t a guarantee of payment. As always, health care practitioners need to verify eligibility and benefits for members.

For additional information on requirements related to drugs covered under the Blue Cross medical benefit, see:

• Medical oncology prior authorization list for Blue Cross commercial fully insured and BCN commercial members
• Blue Cross and BCN utilization management medical drug list

We’ll update these lists before the effective date for MESSA members.

More about AIM medical oncology management program

For more information about the AIM medical oncology program, see:

• aimproviders.com**
• Blue Cross AIM Managed Procedures page on ereferrals.bcbsm.com
• Frequently asked questions document about the oncology management program

The AIM oncology management program is already in effect for:

• Blue Cross commercial fully insured members
• UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust members with a Blue Cross non-Medicare plan (This doesn’t include UAW Retiree Healthcare Trust, group 70605, and UAW International Union, group 71714, both of which are separate from URMBT.)
• Medicare Plus Blue℠ members
• BCN commercial members
• BCN Advantage℠ members

**Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network don’t own or control this website.