The Michigan Education Special Services Association, known as MESSA, manages most prior authorization requests for its members, with exceptions for certain services. Online submission tools for submitting prior authorization requests for MESSA members are shown in the table below — including a new online method for submitting requests to MESSA.
Managed by |
Service |
To submit requests |
More information |
MESSA — new online method |
Services that require prior authorization and are processed by MESSA include:
- Behavioral health admissions submitted by health care providers who aren’t contracted with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (nonparticipating)
- Inpatient medical and surgical admissions to facilities outside of Michigan
- Inpatient rehabilitation admissions
- Long-term acute care hospital admissions
- Private duty nursing
|
Online: Use the MESSA provider portal.** (Acuity Connect™ collaboration portal). The portal will be available, starting June 1, 2023.
Alternate methods
For hospital admissions:
- Fax: 517-203-2998
- Call: 1-800-336-0022
For private duty nursing: Call: 1-800-441-4626
For all other services: Call: 1-800-336-0013
|
Visit the Prior authorization page on the MESSA website.** This webpage will be available before June 1. |
Blue Cross |
Medical benefit drugs: non-oncology |
Online: Use the NovoLogix® online tool, accessed through availity.com.**
Alternate methods
- Fax: 1-866-601-4425
- Call: 1-800-437-3803
|
Visit the Blue Cross Medical Benefit Drugs page on ereferrals.bcbsm.com. |
Pharmacy benefit drugs |
Online: Submit through an electronic prior authorization, or ePA, tool.
Alternate methods
- Fax: 1-866-601-4425
- Call: 1-800-437-3803
|
Visit the Blue Cross Pharmacy Benefit Drugs page on ereferrals.bcbsm.com. |
Alacura Medical Transport |
Non-emergency air ambulance flights |
Online: An electronic prior authorization process will be in place by June 1. We’ll provide more information through a future provider alert or Record article.
Alternate method
Fax the Air ambulance flight information (non-emergency) form to the fax number on the form. |
|
Carelon Medical Benefits Management (formerly AIM Specialty Health®) |
- Cardiac imaging
- High-technology radiology
- In-lab sleep studies
|
Online: Carelon ProviderPortal**
Alternate method
Call: 1-800-728-8008 |
Visit the Blue Cross Carelon-Managed Procedures page on ereferrals.bcbsm.com. |
Medical benefit drugs: medical oncology and supportive care |
Visit the Blue Cross Medical Benefit Drugs page on ereferrals.bcbsm.com. |
New Directions® Behavioral Health |
Behavioral health admissions submitted by health care providers who are contracted with Blue Cross (participating) |
Online: Use the New Directions WebPass tool, accessed through availity.com**
Alternate method
Call: 1-800-762-2382 |
Visit the Blue Cross Behavioral Health webpage on ereferrals.bcbsm.com. |
**Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network don’t own or control this website.
Alacura Medical Transport Management is an independent company that manages the authorization of non-emergency flights for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network members who have commercial plans.
Availity® is an independent company that contracts with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network to offer provider portal services.
Carelon Medical Benefits Management is an independent company that contracts with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network to manage authorizations for select services. For more information, go to our ereferrals.bcbsm.com website.
New Directions Behavioral Health is an independent company that manages authorizations for behavioral health and autism services for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan members who have commercial plans.
