We are committed to improving the way we do business with our provider community. Listening to your feedback, we are pleased to announce a new look and feel is coming to Provider News in the first half of 2023, with additional improvements planned throughout the rest of the year.

Stay tuned for more updates.

The best way to send supporting documents when disputing, appealing, or sending us additional information about a claim is to use the digital applications available on Availity.com.* Using Availity.com to send attachments, such as medical records or an itemized bill, is:

• We’ll receive the documents needed faster than through the mail.
• Less expensive. No need to pull records, copy them, and then mail them. Digital submissions can be uploaded directly to the claim.
• Submitting attachments digitally is the easiest way to send them and the best way for us to receive them.
• More accurate. The information needed to identify the claim is automated, so the risk associated with submitting incorrect information on paper is eliminated.

However, if you choose to send documentation through the mail, it is important that you include at least one of the three following elements; otherwise, we will not be able to match the document to the claim and the correspondence will be returned to you, causing further delays:

1. Valid claim number
   or

2. Valid member ID with prefix and correct dates of service
   or

3. Valid member ID with prefix and billed charges

For a clinical appeal, ensure these elements are included:

1. Valid claim number
   or

2. Valid member ID with prefix and correct dates of service
   or

3. Valid member ID with prefix) and billed charges
   or

4. Member name, member date of birth, and correct dates of service
   or

5. Member name, member date of birth, authorization, or reference number

This is important: We cannot match the attachment to the correct claim or member if these elements are not included with your non-digital (fax or mail) submission.

The preferred method for submitting supporting documentation is digitally because the documents are attached directly to the claim. This reduces the possibility that incorrect information is included on the paper submission.

To attach documents to your claim digitally, go to Availity.com and use the Claims & Payments tab to access Claims Status. Enter the necessary information to find your claim and use the Submit Attachments button to upload your supporting documentation.

For a claim dispute or an appeal, from Availity.com, use the Claims & Payments tab to access Claims Status. Enter the necessary information to find your claim, use the Dispute button, and upload your supporting documentation. If the Dispute button capability is not available, refer to the provider manual for information about how to file a claim dispute/appeal.

If you do send supporting documentation through the mail or fax, you must include the elements noted above. It is preferrable that you include this information on the first page of the correspondence you send to us. If this information is not included on your paper correspondence, we will return the correspondence to you because we are not able to validate the documentation.

For information about submitting attachments digitally, use this link to access Availity: Learn about the new claim attachments workflow.

The following new and revised Medical Policies and Clinical Guidelines were endorsed at the November 10, 2022, Medical Policy & Technology Assessment Committee (MPTAC) meeting. These, and all Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical Policies and Clinical Guidelines, are available at anthem.com. Select ForProviders. Under the Provider Resources heading, select Policies, Guidelines & Manuals. Select Maine as your state. Then, select View Medical Policies & Clinical UM Guidelines.

To view Medical Policies and Clinical Utilization Management Guidelines applicable to members enrolled in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan (commonly referred to as the Federal Employee Program^® [FEP]), visit www.fepblue.org > Policies & Guidelines. 

Medical Policy updates

New Medical Policy effective May 1, 2023

The following policy is new:

• MED.00143 Ingestible Devices for the Treatment of Constipation*

Revised Medical Policies effective May 1, 2023

The policies below were revised and might result in services that were previously covered but may now be found to be either not medically necessary and/or investigational:

• MED.00130 Surface Electromyography and Electrodermal Activity Sensor Devices for Seizure Monitoring*
• SURG.00097 Scoliosis Surgery*

Clinical Guideline updates

Revised Clinical Guideline effective May 1, 2023

The following adopted guideline was revised and might result in services that were previously covered but may now be found to be not medically necessary:

• CG-DME-31 Powered Wheeled Mobility Devices*

* The applicable policy is attached to this article in PDF format.

To view the 2023 benefits and changes for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan, also known as the Federal Employee Program^® (FEP), go to www.fepblue.org > select Tools & Resources > Brochure & Resources. Here, you will find the Service Benefit plan brochure, benefit plan summaries, and Quick Reference Guides on information for year 2023. If you have questions, please contact FEP Customer Service at:

CO – 800-852-5957

CT – 800-438-5356

GA – 800-282-2473

IN – 800-382-5520

KY – 800-456-3967

ME – 800-722-0203

MO – 800-392-8043

NV – 800-727-4060

NH – 800-852-3316

NY – 800-522-5566

OH – 800-451-7602

VA – 800-552-6989

WI – 800-242-9635

The following Clinical Criteria documents were endorsed at the November 18, 2022, Clinical Criteria meeting. Visit our website to access the Clinical Criteria information.

New Clinical Criteria effective May 1, 2023

The following Clinical Criteria are new:

• CC-0222 Tecvayli (teclistamab-cqyv)*
• CC-0223 Imjudo (tremelimumab-actl)*
• CC-0224 Pedmark (sodium thiosulfate injection)*

Revised Clinical Criteria effective May 1, 2023

The following Clinical Criteria were revised and might result in services that were previously covered but may now be found to be not medically necessary:

• CC-0003 Immunoglobulins*
• CC-0041 Complement Inhibitors*
• CC-0042 Monoclonal Antibodies to Interleukin-17*
• CC-0050 Monoclonal Antibodies to Interleukin-23*
• CC-0062 Tumor Necrosis Factor Antagonists*
• CC-0063 Stelara (ustekinumab)*
• CC-0064 Interleukin-1 Inhibitors*
• CC-0066 Monoclonal Antibodies to Interleukin-6*
• CC-0071 Entyvio (vedolizumab)*
• CC-0078 Orencia (abatacept)*
• CC-0100 Istodax (romidepsin)*
• CC-0107 Bevacizumab for Non-Ophthalmologic Indications*
• CC-0124 Keytruda (pembrolizumab)*
• CC-0150 Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel)*
• CC-0151 Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel)*
• CC-0168 Tecartus (brexucabtagene autoleucel)*
• CC-0187 Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel)*
• CC-0195 Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel)*
• CC-0204 Tivdak (tisotumab vedotin-tftv)*
• CC-0205 Fyarro (siroliumus albumin bound)*
• CC-0214 Carvykti (ciltacabtagene autoleucel)*

* The applicable policy is attached to this article in PDF format.

Prior authorization clinical review for non-oncology use of specialty pharmacy drugs is managed by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s medical specialty drug review team. Review of specialty pharmacy drugs for oncology use is managed by AIM Specialty Health_®* (AIM), a separate company.

Important to note: Currently, your patients may be receiving these medications without prior authorization. As of the effective date below, you may be required to submit a prior authorization for your patients’ continued use of these medications.

Including the National Drug Code (NDC) code on your claim may help expedite claim processing for drugs billed with a Not Otherwise Classified (NOC) code.

Reminder: Clinical Criteria name change

In January 2023, we changed the name of Clinical Criteria documents from ING-CC-XXXX to CC‑XXXX; however, the content within the documents remains unchanged.

Prior authorization updates

Effective for dates of service on and after May 1, 2023, the following specialty pharmacy codes from current or new Clinical Criteria documents will be included in our prior authorization review process.

* Oncology use is managed by AIM.

+ The applicable Clinical Criteria is attached to this article in PDF format. 

Note: Prior authorization requests for certain medications may require additional documentation to determine medical necessity.

Step therapy updates

Effective for dates of service on and after May 1, 2023, the following specialty pharmacy codes from current or new Clinical Criteria documents will be included in our existing specialty pharmacy medical step therapy review process. 

Access our Clinical Criteria to view the complete information for these step therapy updates.

Clinical Criteria CC-0107 currently has a step therapy preferring Avastin and the biosimilar Mvasi. This update is to notify that the new biosimilar Vegzelma will be added to existing step therapy as a non-preferred agent.

* Oncology use is managed by AIM.

+ The applicable Clinical Criteria is attached to this article in PDF format. 

Clinical Criteria CC-0072: This is a courtesy notice to notify that there is an expansion in the preferred products in the step therapy for Clinical Criteria CC-0072 Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor inhibitors. Currently, Avastin and Eylea are preferred. Effective April 1, 2023, Byooviz, Cimerli, Lucentis, and Vabysmo will change from non-preferred to preferred product status.

Quantity limit updates

Effective for dates of service on and after May 1, 2023, the following specialty pharmacy codes from current or new Clinical Criteria documents will be included in our quantity limit review process.

Access our Clinical Criteria to view the complete information for these quantity limit updates.

+ The applicable Clinical Criteria is attached to this article in PDF format.