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

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

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network has contracted with Availity®, an independent company, to offer provider portal and electronic data interchange services for 837, 835, 270/271, and 276/277 transactions.

The material contained here applies to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and BCN health plans:

  • Blue Cross commercial, including the Federal Employee Program®
  • Medicare Plus BlueSM, the Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO plan
  • Blue Care Network commercial
  • BCN AdvantageSM, the BCN Medicare Advantage HMO and POS plans
  • Blue Cross® Complete, the Blue Cross Medicaid plan

Getting started

  • Availity® manages the Trading Partner Agreement and Availity Organizational Access Agreement. Contact Availity at 1-800-282-4548 for questions and help in setting up your EDI interface and registration. You can also Register with Availity and select Get Started then choose the option that best describes your need.

To become an approved submitter, you must:

  • Work directly with your clearinghouse.
  • You or your clearinghouse will need to set up your 835 electronic remittance advice designation at Availity under enrollment. You must be registered with Availity to receive 835 ERA.
  • The Availity companion guides.
    • Guides are available once you've obtained an Availity account by logging in to Availity Essentials.
    • To setup an account or for questions about the guides, contact Availity Client Services 1-800-282-4548.
  • The BCBSM companion documents available under Blue Cross Blue Shield and Blue Care Network Companion Documents and Related forms and documents.

Availity offers a Direct Data Entry online claim submission. If you are a Blue Cross registered provider, please work with an Availity Client Services at 1-800-282-4548 for assistance with enrolling and navigating the Availity direct data entry (DDE) claim submission tool.

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

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Need additional help? 

If you need help registering for Availity EDI, updating your 835 ERA designation or with EDI edits/failed transactions, call Availity Client Services at 1-800-AVAILITY (282-4548) or go to Register with Availity and select Get Started. Assistance is available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Were you looking for information on the BCBSM EDI helpdesk? Availity Client Services replaced the EDI Helpdesk in 2024.

Related forms and documents

Quick Reference Guide to Electronic data interchange through Availity® (PDF) 
Visit the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network move to Availity information page and select Get Started 
HIPAA Transaction Standard Companion Guide - Real Time Transactions (270/271 Eligibility and Benefits, 276/277 Claim Status) (PDF)
HIPAA Transaction Standard Companion Guide – Batch Transactions (837 Professional, Institutional, Dental, and 835 Remittance) (PDF)
HIPAA Transaction Standard Companion Guide - Health Care Services Review and Response Transaction (278) (PDF)
EDI Enrollment for BlueExchange Medicare Crossover 835s (PDF)
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