For Providers: How Do I Sign Up for Electronic Data Interchange?

EDI, or electronic data interchange, is a way to exchange information with us electronically. The information can be things like claims, electronic enrollment, patient eligibility and claims status transactions.

You'll need to get set up and follow some guidelines to send and receive information using EDI. We'll help you do that here. You'll also find lists of claims that can't be processed electronically and a library with helpful documents.

Getting started

Start by reading our Trading Partner Agreement and Authorization: Online claim submission (portal) Frequently asked questions (PDF) and select the option that most closely describes you. 

We’re making changes that offer providers a new option for submitting Blue Cross, Medicare Plus BlueSM, Federal Employee Program®, Blue Care Network, BCN AdvantageSM and Blue Cross® Complete claims.

Read more about the transition to the Availity® provider portal.

If you've decided to bill us electronically using billing software you purchased from a vendor, you must:

  • Call the EDI Help Desk at 1-800-542-0945 or email us to get a submitter ID and instructions.
  • Complete a Trading Partner Agreement once your billing software is installed and ready for use.

To become an approved submitter, you must complete these steps:

  1. Complete self-testing.
  2. After you've received three passed files for each line of business tested, call the number on the test instruction letter to begin subsystem testing. If you haven't received testing instructions, please contact the EDI help desk at 1-800-542-0945.

You must follow these steps:

  1. Complete self-testing.
  2. After you've received three passed files for each line of business tested, call the number on the test instruction letter to begin subsystem testing. If you haven't received testing instructions, please contact the EDI helpdesk at 1-800-542-0945.

To submit pharmacy claims, you should be set up to bill the pharmacy provider. For technical requirements and instructions, please call one of these numbers:

PPO plans - 1-855-811-2223

BCN plans - 1-844-642-9087

Still need help?
Contact us

Related forms and documents

For Providers: EDI Professional Commercial Payer Listing (PDF)
BCBSM V5010 Acknowledgements (PDF)
ANSI ASC X12N 835 (005010X221A1) Health Care Claim Payment/Advice Companion Document (PDF)
ANSI ASC X12N 837 (005010X223A2) Institutional Health Care Claim Companion Document (PDF)
ANSI ASC X12N 837 (005010X222A1) Professional Health Care Claim Companion Document (PDF)
ANSI ASC X12N 837 (005010X224A2) Dental Health Care Claim Companion Document (PDF)
BCBSM Managed File Transfer Platform - Edifecs (PDF)
ANSI ASC X12N 834 (005010X220A1) Benefit Enrollment and Maintenance Companion Document (PDF)
EDI Enrollment for BlueExchange Medicare Crossover 835s (PDF)
View all