Inpatient rehabilitation providers: Sign up for October training on e-referral system

We’ve scheduled webinars in October 2022 for inpatient rehabilitation, or IPR, providers to teach them how to use the e-referral system. In the training, we’ll also review the basic requirements for rehabilitation admissions and discuss discharge planning.

How to register for a webinar

To register for a session through our provider training site, follow these steps:

1. Open the registration page.
2. Complete the registration. We recommend using the same email you use to communicate with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for provider-related needs. This will become your login ID.
3. Follow the link to log in.
4. On the main page, click on the webinar event you want to attend. The webinar sessions are listed under Upcoming Events on the right side of the page.
5. Click on the Register button to complete your registration.
6. To add the event to your email calendar, either click on the Add to your calendar button on the confirmation page or open the calendar attachment on your confirmation email.

If you need assistance creating your login ID or navigating the site, contact ProviderTraining@bcbsm.com.

Why you should learn how to use the e-referral system

Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, we’ll require IPR providers located in Michigan to submit prior authorization requests through the e-referral system and not by fax. This applies to requests for both Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network commercial members for:

• Initial admissions
• Additional days (extensions)

Currently, many IPR providers are faxing the Blue Cross and BCN SNF/acute IPR assessment form to submit their prior authorization requests for inpatient rehabilitation services.

What's changing

Starting Jan. 1, 2023:

• We'll stop accepting faxed requests as a general practice.
• We'll accept faxes only for urgent requests when the e-referral system isn’t available. In those instances, fax the form using the instructions on the PDF document titled e-referral system planned downtimes and what to do.

If we receive a faxed form for an admission or extension when the e-referral system is available, we won't accept the request. We'll notify IPR providers by fax or phone that they must submit the request through the e-referral system.

Additional information

For additional details about the upcoming changes, refer to the articles we published in the September 2022 Record or the September-October 2022 BCN Provider News.