Reminder: We’re migrating Medicare Plus Blue membership to NASCO beginning in 2024

In a March 2023 Record article, we notified you that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is updating its internal processes in preparation for moving its Medicare Plus Blue℠ membership to the NASCO operating system beginning next year. The migration only affects Medicare Plus Blue provider vouchers and will take place in phases.

In January 2024, groups that are new to Medicare Plus Blue will be loaded to the operating system. Then, in January 2025, individual members and select non-key groups (smaller groups) will migrate to NASCO. In 2026, key and large groups will migrate.

The new Medicare Plus Blue provider voucher will look similar to the current Blue Cross commercial vouchers but will include a new field that indicates the provider network. The voucher will also include new columns to identify the tax ID and electronic funds transfer dates. In addition, it will have descriptions regarding the sequestration and withhold amounts in the remittance advice section.

Additional Information

When providers receive payments from the NASCO platform, the check or EFT number series on the voucher will be updated as follows:

• Paper checks — Check numbers will begin with “4;” currently they begin with “1.”
• EFT payments — Numbers will begin with “7;” currently they begin with “6.”

Also, all Medicare Advantage claims will be finalized on a Tuesday and either a check or EFT will be issued at that time. EFT funds will be received on Friday of the same week unless that day is a federal holiday.

These changes only apply to members being migrated to NASCO.

Member ID cards

We’ll also issue new Medicare Plus Blue member ID cards with a new alphanumeric prefix, deidentified ID number and nine-digit group number for those on the NASCO system. Members will receive the new cards according to their migration time frame indicated above. The image below provides an example of what the new group ID card will look like.

Example of a Medicare Plus Blue Group PPO ID card with Medicare Rx:

Note: Groups without prescription drug coverage won’t have the Medicare Rx symbol.

We’ll be providing more information about the migration in a future issue of The Record.