 Provider News OhioOctober 2021 Anthem Provider News - Ohio
If you missed our live continuing medical education (CME) webinars, you can still register for the recorded webinars and earn CME credits. Join our CME webinar series and learn best practices to overcoming barriers in achieving clinical quality goals, attaining better patient outcomes and improving STARs performance.
Program objectives:
- Learn strategies to help you and your care team improve your performance across a range of clinical areas.
- Apply the knowledge you gain from the webinars to improve your organization’s quality and STARs ratings.
Attendees will receive one CME credit upon answering required questions at the conclusion of each webinar.
REGISTER HERE for our upcoming live and on-demand clinical quality webinars.
The clinical appeal process is designed to provide appropriate and timely review when providers disagree with a decision made by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem). The procedures also meet requirements of state laws and accreditation agencies. Appeals can be made verbally, in writing, or by using Interactive Care Reviewer (ICR) through the Availity portal.
Clinical appeals refer to a situation in which an authorization or claim for a service was denied as not medically necessary or experimental/investigational. Medical necessity and prior authorization appeals are different than claim payment disputes and should be submitted in accordance with the clinical appeal process.
To learn more about our appeals process in detail, we encourage you to go to Anthem’s provider manual, available on our website at anthem.com.
In the coming months, we will be enhancing your ability to search, review and download a copy of the remittance advice on Availity when there is no associated payment. For remittance advices with payments, you may continue to search with the check/EFT number.
What’s changing?
1. Non-payment number display in the Check Number and Check/EFT Number fields:
- Current - Today, there are two sets of numbers for the same remittance advice. The paper remittance displays 10 bytes (9999999999 or 99########) and the corresponding 835 (ERA) displays 27 bytes (9999999999 – [year] #############).
- Enhancement - The updated numbering sequence for the paper remittance and corresponding 835 (ERA) will contain the same ten-digit number beginning with 9 (9XXXXXXXXX). Each non-payment remittance issued will be assigned a unique number.
2. Searching for non-payment remittance:
- Current - When using Remit Inquiry, the search field requires a date range and tax ID to locate a specific remittance due to same number scenario being used for every non-payment remittance.
- Enhancement - Once the unique ERA non-payment remittance number is available, it can be entered in the check number field in Remit Inquiry. This new way of assigning check numbers will provide a faster and simplified process to find the specific remittance.
The way your organization receives remittances and payments is not changing; we have simply enhanced the numbering for the non-pay remittances. These changes will not impact previously issued non-payment remittance advices. We’ll provide further information before this change is implemented.
In the June 2021 edition of Provider News, we announced additional enhancements to our claims editing systems to include an automated front end adjudication of claims edits.
To clarify, this enhancement does not affect any of our reimbursement policies. The enhanced edits update our claims editing process for outpatient facility claims.
These enhanced edits provide an opportunity to shift certain existing back-end reviews to front-end adjudication for outpatient facility claims including but not limited to scenarios with:
- Revenue code billing
- CPT/HCPCS code reporting
- Modifier usage
African American and Hispanic women have higher risk of death from breast cancer than their White counterparts.1
Race and ethnicity continue to be a factor influencing mammography use according to a National Library of Medicine.2 While research and studies show that annual screenings greatly reduce breast cancer deaths, 35% of women still do not get an annual mammogram and the percentage is even higher in African American and Hispanic women.
While African American and White women get breast cancer at about the same rate, African American women have a higher rate of death from breast cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. African American and Hispanic women are 20% more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer, and they have, respectively, up to 70% and 14% increased risk of death.4
A common theme stressed in all of the major breast screening guidelines has been for providers to talk with patients about mammography. But when? Knowing that younger African American and Hispanic women are already considered a “high-risk” group, the conversation can be confusing to your patient under 30.
Help your African American and Hispanic patients understand the importance of early screening by sharing information with them about their unique risks. We’ve included links to videos that address breast cancer screening in both African American and Hispanic women. We hope you will share them with your patients either in your waiting rooms, or by offering to play them during their visits.
VIDEO: Why mammograms matter for Black women
VIDEO: Why mammograms matter for Hispanic women
There are other resources available through the Center for Disease control and the American Cancer Society, to name a few. The American College of Radiology has a Talking to Patients about Breast Cancer Screening CME Toolkit that offers CME credits for completing the toolkit.
Talking to women about taking everyday steps to lower their risk for getting breast cancer is the first step in closing disparity gaps in care.
The American Cancer Society estimates there will be approximately 1,898,160 cancer cases diagnosed in 2021. That’s the equivalent of 5,200 new cases each and every day. 1 The good news is, patients say they are more likely to get screened when you recommend it. What else can you do to influence cancer screenings?2
- Understand the power of the physician recommendation.
- Your recommendation is the most influential factor in whether a person decides to get screened.
- Patients are 90% more likely to get a screening when they reported a physician recommendation.
- “My doctor did not recommend it,” is the primary reason for screening avoidance.
- Recognize cultural barriers that may impact your diverse patients
- Culturally sensitive conversations with your patients can help with fear, embarrassment, anxiety, and misconceptions about screenings.
- Go to mydiversepatients.com for information and resources.
- Measure the screening rates in your practice; it may not be as high as you think.
- Set goals to get screening rates up.
- Follow the HEDIS guidelines included in this article to help accurately track your care gap closures.
- More screening doesn’t have to mean more work for you.
- Reach out to us about available member data – we may be able to help identify or supply access to data for those members who are due screenings.
- Develop a reminder system, which has been demonstrated to be effective, to remind you and staff that patients have screenings due.
- Help members access benefit information about screenings to eliminate the cost barrier.
- Log onto availity.com and use the Patient Information tab to run an Eligibility and Benefits inquiry.
- Members can access their benefit information by logging onto anthem.com/member-needs/, through Live Chat, or by downloading the Sydney Health App.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan members, also known as Federal Employee Program® members, can access their benefit information by logging onto org, or by downloading the fepblue App from the Apple Store or on Google Play.
Measure up: HEDIS® measure specifications for cancer screenings for women
Cervical cancer screening
Organized and continuous screenings along with removal of precancerous lesions can lead to a 60% decrease in cervical cancer.3
Cervical cancer screening is measured by the percentage of women, 21 to 64 years of age who were screened for cervical cancer using either of the following criteria:
- Women 21 to 64 years of age who had cervical cytology performed within the last 3 years.
- Women 30 to 64 years of age who had cervical high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing performed within the last 5 years.
- Women 30 to 64 years of age who had cervical cytology/high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) co-testing within the last 5 years.
Description
|
CPT/HCPCS Code
|
Cervical cytology lab test
|
CPT: 88141–88143, 88147, 88148, 88150, 88152–88153, 88164–88167, 88174, 88175
HCPCS: G0123, G0124, G0141, G0143, G0145, G0147, G0148, P3000, P3001, Q0091
LOINC: 10524-7, 18500-9, 19762-4, 19764-0, 19765-7, 19766-5, 19774-9, 33717-0, 47527-7, 47528-5
|
hrHPV lab test
|
CPT: 87620–87622, 87624, 87625
HCPCS: G0476
LOINC: 21440-3, 30167-1, 38372-9, 59263-4, 59264-2, 59420-0, 69002-4, 71431-1, 75694-0, 77379-6, 77399-4, 77400-0, 82354-2, 82456-5, 82675-0
|
Absence of cervix diagnosis
|
ICD-10-CM: Q51.5, Z90.710, Z90.712
|
Hysterectomy with no residual cervix
|
CPT: 51925, 56308, 57530, 57531, 57540, 57545, 57550, 57555, 57556, 58150, 58152, 58200, 58210, 58240, 58260, 58262, 58263, 58267, 58270, 58275, 58280, 58285, 58290–58294, 58548, 58550, 58552, 58553, 58554, 58570–58573, 58575, 58951, 58953, 58954, 58956, 59135
ICD-10-PCS: 0UTC0ZZ, 0UTC4ZZ, 0UTC7ZZ, 0UTC8ZZ
|
Breast cancer screening
More women in the United States are surviving and thriving after breast cancer than ever before. In fact, in the last 30 years, the breast cancer death rate has dropped an astounding 40%. The decreases are believed to be the result of finding breast cancer earlier through screening, increased awareness, and better treatments.4
Breast cancer screening is measured by the percentage of women 50 to 74 years of age who had a mammogram to screen for breast cancer. Compliant members have one or more mammograms any time on or between October 1st two years prior to the measurement year and December 31st of the measurement year.
Description
|
CPT/HCPCS Code
|
Mammography
|
CPT: 77057, 77061–76063, 77065–77067
LOINC: 24604-1, 24605-8, 24606-6, 24610-8, 26175-0, 26176-8, 26177-6, 26287-3, 26289-9, 26291-5, 26346-7, 26347-5, 26348-3, 26349-1, 26350-9, 26351-7, 36319-2, 36625-2, 36626-0, 36627-8, 36642-7, 36962-9, 37005-6, 37006-4, 37016-3, 37017-1, 37028-8, 37029-6, 37030-4, 37037-9, 37038-7, 37052-8, 37053-6, 37539-4, 37542-8, 37543-6, 37551-9, 37552-7, 37553-5,
37554-3, 37768-9, 37769-7, 37770-5, 37771-3, 37772-1, 37773-9, 37774-7, 37775-4, 38070-9, 38071-7, 38072-5, 38090-7, 38091-5, 38807-4, 38820-7, 38854-6, 38855-3, 42415-0, 42416-8, 46335-6, 46336-4, 46337-2, 46338-0, 46339-8, 46350-5, 46351-3, 46356-2, 46380-2, 48475-8, 48492-3, 69150-1, 69251-7, 69259-0
|
Online assessments
|
CPT: 98970–98972, 99421–99423, 99457
HCPCS: G0071, G2010, G2012, G2061–G2063
|
Telephone visits
|
CPT: 98966–98968, 99441–99443
|
Chlamydia screening in women
Sexual health is an essential element of overall health and well-being. Many patients want to discuss their sexual health with you, but most of them want you to bring it up. The National Coalition for Sexual Health has published a guide to help physicians feel comfortable about the conversation. Get a copy of the Sexual Health and Your Patients: A Providers Guide by clicking on the title or through this website: ctcfp.org.
Chlamydia screening in women is measured by the percentage of women 16 to 24 years of age who were identified as sexually active and who had at least one test for chlamydia during the measurement year.
Description
|
CPT/HCPCS Code
|
Chlamydia tests
|
CPT: 87110, 87270, 87320, 87490–87492, 87810
|
In late 2020, the Price Transparency final rule and the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) were enacted. By law, many of these provisions require that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) must disclose pricing and other information previously not available publicly. Below is a summary of provisions that may impact you. Some sections of these laws are pending further rulemaking/regulations.
Transparency in pricing regulation – Overview of changes and action Anthem is taking
Transparency requirements will be phased in over three years beginning July 2022 as follows:
Plan years that begin
|
Regulation requirements
|
ANTHEM’s action
|
On or after
January 1, 2022
|
Anthem must make three separate machine-readable files in a standardized format available to the public, including stakeholders such as consumers, researchers, employers, and third-party developers. The three files must be placed on a publicly available website and updated monthly.
1. Negotiated in-network provider rates for all covered items and services
2. Historical payments to, and billed charges from, out-of-network providers
3. In-network negotiated rates and historical net prices for all covered prescription drugs administered by Anthem at the pharmacy location level.
The rate information is required to include the provider’s National Provider Identifier (NPI) and taxpayer identification number (TIN).
|
We are developing the files that will be available through our website for the data we administer and maintain.
Machine Readable Files will be published beginning July 1, 2022, except those for prescription drugs, which are pending further rulemaking.
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January 1, 2023
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Anthem must make personalized out-of-pocket cost information and the underlying negotiated rates for 500 covered healthcare items and services – including prescription drugs – available to participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees.
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As required, we are on track with making information available through an internet-based, self-service tool and in paper form upon request.
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January 1, 2024
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Anthem must expand our transparency tools to encompass all covered items and services.
|
We continue to review and assess guidance regarding the regulation and are working to comply with requirements.
|
Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA)
As a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act or CAA, there are significant new health plan requirements, including protections for patients from surprise medical bills and other significant health coverage related provisions. Most of these provisions are effective January 1, 2022.
Regulatory detail needed for full implementation is still pending in most cases. However, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has indicated good faith compliance should be pursued pending regulatory implementation detail.
Some key provisions of the CAA, effective January 1, 2022, are listed below that may impact your business interactions with us.
Surprise billing and independent dispute resolution process
The CAA requires that patients be held responsible for only in-network cost sharing amounts, including deductibles, in emergency situations and certain non-emergency situations where patients do not have the ability to choose an in-network provider (including air ambulance providers). The provision also prohibits out-of-network providers from balance billing except in limited circumstances where the out-of-network provider has obtained a notice and consent from the patient. An independent dispute resolution (IDR) process is available when an out-of-network provider and Anthem cannot reach an agreement on payment.
In July 2021, an interim final rule (IFR) provided some of the regulatory detail around cost sharing calculations for surprise billing. Further regulatory guidance is expected in the coming months – including guidance regarding the IDR process.
Anthem is moving forward with changes in calculations and payment based on the guidance received to date. We will continue to monitor for additional regulatory guidance.
Increasing transparency by removing contract provisions known as gag clauses that may prohibit health plans from disclosing price and quality information
The CAA requires Anthem to provide access to provider-specific price or quality of care information, through a consumer engagement tool or any other means, to referring providers, enrollees, or individuals eligible to become Anthem enrollees.
Due to the gag clause provision, we will no longer be able to allow suppression of price and quality data upon provider request.
Member identification card changes
Member ID cards issued for plan years on and after January 1, 2022, must include information to ensure that members know how to access current information regarding their deductibles and out-of-pocket limits. Additionally, member ID cards must include a telephone number and internet address for members to use for assistance should they have questions such as whether a provider participates in our networks. We encourage in-network providers to continue to use Availity for member cost share information.
Continuity of care
As a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, there is a continuity of care protection requirement that allows patients with serious or complex care needs (continuing care patients) to have up to a 90-day period of continued coverage at the same terms and conditions when a provider changes network status or an insured group contract terminates. This provides continued coverage at in-network cost sharing rates to allow for a transition of care to an in-network provider or until the patient is no longer a continuing care patient under the CAA.
Anthem must notify individuals who qualify as continuing care patients at the time of the provider’s termination as an in-network provider of the option to continue care for the transitional period of up to 90 days. Providers subject to this provision must accept the continued in-network payment as payment in full and otherwise comply with all policies, procedures and quality standards Anthem imposes. If an insured group terminates with Anthem, continuing care patients also have up to a 90-day period of continued care at in-network cost sharing rates. Applicable contract rates will apply for providers.
Protecting patients and improving the accuracy of provider directory information
Anthem must maintain a provider directory available to consumers online that includes a list of the in-network providers and facilities. Anthem must verify provider/facility name, address, specialty, phone number and digital contact information at least every 90 days.
Find Care, the doctor finder and transparency tool in Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem)’s online directory, allows Anthem members to search and compare cost and quality measures for in-network providers. This tool allows members to sort providers based on distance, name, or personalized match. Additionally, as communicated earlier this year, the enhanced personalized match sorting option is now available to search by procedure type in addition to providers.
The algorithms used to sort procedure type use a combination of member and provider features to sort and display the results for a member’s search. The sorting results take into account member factors such as the member’s medical conditions and demographics. Provider factors such as surgeon-facility pairing (an individual provider who performs a procedure at a specific facility), cost efficiency measures, volumes of patients treated across various disease conditions, and outcome-based quality measures.
Combined member and provider features generate a unique ranking of surgeon-facility pairings or facility providers for each member conducting the procedure search. Displayed first are surgeon-facility pairings with the highest overall ranking within the search radius. Remaining pairings are displayed in descending order based on overall rank and proximity to the center of the search radius.
Personalized match procedure searches is expanding to include additional procedures on or after November 19, 2021. Anthem will use an updated episode of care methodology for these new procedures. The episode of care methodology for procedure searches that became available earlier this year will remain unchanged. The personalized match methodology for specialty-based provider searches remains unchanged. Members continue to have the ability to sort from a variety of orders such as distance. This enhancement in sorting methodology has no impact on member benefits.
You may review a copy of the procedure sorting methodologies, including the updated episode of care methodology for procedures added on or after November 19, 2021, by going to Availity and then using the following navigation: Payer Spaces > Anthem > Information Center > Administrative Support > Personalized Provider Procedure Search Methodology.
If you have general questions about the Find Care tool or the change to the quality measures for procedure searches, please contact [provider customer service/local Anthem consultant].
If you would like detailed information about quality or cost factors used as part of this unique sorting or you would like to request reconsideration of those factors, you may do so by emailing personalizedmatchsorting@anthem.com or by calling 833-292-2601.
As a reminder, effective November 1, 2021, EnrollSafe will replace CAQH Enrollhub as the electronic funds transfer (EFT) enrollment portal for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) providers. As of November 1, 2021, CAQH Enrollhub will no longer offer EFT enrollment to new users. CAQH Enrollhub is the only CAQH tool being decommissioned. All other CAQH tools will not be impacted.
Benefits of EFT
Not only is receiving your payment more convenient, so is signing up for EFT. When you sign up for EFT through EnrollSafe, the new enrollment portal, you’ll receive your payments up to seven days sooner than through the paper check method. What’s more, it’s easier to reconcile your direct deposits.
Secure and available 24-hours a day – EnrollSafe
Beginning November 1, 2021, if you need to make changes to an existing EFT enrollment or create a new first-time account, log onto the EnrollSafe enrollment hub at https://enrollsafe.payeehub.org to enroll in EFT. Once you have completed registration, you’ll be directed through the EnrollSafe secure portal to the enrollment page, where you’ll provide the required information to receive direct payment deposits.
Already enrolled in EFT through CAQH Enrollhub?
Please note if you’re already enrolled in EFT through CAQH Enrollhub, no action is needed unless making changes. Your EFT enrollment information will not change as a result of the new enrollment hub.
If you have changes to make, after October 31, 2021, use EnrollSafe to update your account.
Electronic remittance advice (ERA) makes reconciling your EFT payments easy and paper-free
Now that you are enrolled in EFT, using the digital ERA is the very best way to reconcile your deposits – securely and safely. You’ll be issued a trace number with your EFT deposit that matches up with your ERA on Availity.
ERAs can be retrieved directly from Availity. Log onto Availity and select Claims and Payments > Send and Receive EDI Files > Received Files folder. When using a clearinghouse or billing service, they will supply the 835 ERA for you. You also have the option to view or download a copy of the Remittance Advice under Payer Spaces > Remittance Inquiry tool.
Contact information
Type of transaction
|
How to register, update, or cancel
|
For registration related questions, contact
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To resolve issues after registration, contact
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EFT only
|
Use EnrollSafe
|
EnrollSafe help desk at
1-877-882-0384
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EnrollSafe help desk at
1-877-882-0384
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ERA (835) only
|
Use Availity
|
Availity Support
1-800-282-4548
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Availity at 1-800-282-4548
NOTE: Providers should allow up to 10 business days for ERA enrollment processing.
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The following Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield medical policies and clinical guidelines were reviewed on August 12, 2021 for Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Determine if prior authorization is needed for an Anthem member by going to anthem.com > select “Providers” > under “Claims” > select “Prior Authorization”, then select your state. Or, you may call the prior authorization phone number on the back of the member’s ID card.
These medical policies to not apply to members enrolled in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan, commonly referred to as the Federal Employee Program® (FEP®). To view medical policies and utilization management guidelines applicable to FEP members, please visit fepblue.org > Policies & Guidelines.
Below are the new medical policies that have been approved.
Title
|
Information
|
Effective date
|
DME.00043 Neuromuscular Electrical Training for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea or Snoring
|
The use of a neuromuscular electrical training device is considered investigational/not medically necessary (INV&NMN) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea or snoring
-No specific code for this OSA device considered INV&NMN; listed E1399 NOC
|
1/1/2022
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GENE.00058
TruGraf Blood Gene Expression Test for Transplant Monitoring
|
TruGraf blood gene expression test is considered INV&NMN for monitoring immunosuppression in transplant recipients and for all other indications
-No specific code for TruGraf test considered INV&NMN; listed 81479 NOC
|
1/1/2022
|
LAB.00040
Serum Biomarker Tests for Risk of Preeclampsia
|
Serum biomarker tests to diagnosis, screen for, or assess risk of preeclampsia are considered INV&NMN
-Existing CPT PLA code 0243U (effective 04/01/21) for PIGF Preeclampsia Screen will be considered INV&NMN; also listed 81599 NOC code
|
1/1/2022
|
LAB.00042
Molecular Signature Test for Predicting Response to Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Therapy
|
Molecular signature testing to predict response to Tumor Necrosis Factor inhibitor (TNFi) therapy is considered INV&NMN for all uses, including but not limited to guiding treatment for rheumatoid arthritis
-No specific code for this TNF test (PrismRA test) considered INV&NMN; listed 81479, 81599 NOC codes
|
1/1/2022
|
OR-PR.00007
Microprocessor Controlled Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis
|
Outlines the MN and NMN criteria for the use of a microprocessor controlled knee-ankle-foot orthosis
-Existing HCPCS KAFO code L2006 will be reviewed for MN criteria
|
1/1/2022
|
The current clinical guidelines listed below were reviewed and updates were approved.
Title
|
Change
|
Effective date
|
CG-DME-44
Electric Tumor Treatment Field (TTF)
|
Added medical necessity (MN) indications for continuation therapy
|
1/1/2022
|
Policy update
In July 2021, we notified you of the new medical policy effective November 1, 2021 listed below. This policy will be added as a prior authorization requirement on January 1, 2022.
NOTE *Prior authorization required
Title
|
Change
|
Effective date
|
*CG-MED-89
Home Parenteral Nutrition
|
Outlines the MN and NMN criteria for initial and continuing use of home parenteral nutrition
-Existing codes B4164, B4168, B4172, B4176, B4178, B4180, B4185, B4187, B4189, B4193, B4197, B4199, B4216, B4220, B4222, B4224, B5000, B5100, B5200, B9004, B9006, B9999, S9364, S9365, S9366, S9367, S9368 for parenteral nutrition will be reviewed for MN criteria
|
1/1/2022
|
In the May 2021 issue of Provider News, we communicated the thresholds for the itemized bill requirement for claims reimbursed at a percent of charge:
- The threshold for requiring an itemized bill for inpatient claims is $100,000.
- The threshold for requiring an itemized bill for outpatient claims is $50,000.
We subsequently communicated in the August 2021 issue of Provider News that the wording of the policy was updated to remove the threshold language from the policy; however, the removal of the language from the policy DOES NOT change the thresholds in place. The communicated thresholds remain at $100,000 for inpatient and $50,000 for outpatient.
We will communicate any future changes in thresholds via Provider News.
*Notice of Material Amendment/Change to Contract (MAC)
Beginning with dates of service on or after January 1, 2022, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) will implement a new facility reimbursement policy titled, Multiple and Bilateral Surgery Processing.
Anthem allows reimbursement for only the primary, or highest valued, procedure when multiple or bilateral procedures are performed on the same day or same session, and at the same place of treatment when billed by a facility. A single surgical procedure is subject to multiple procedure reduction guidelines when submitted with multiple units.
For more information about this policy, visit the Reimbursement Policy page at anthem.com.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Community Insurance Company. Independent licensee(s) of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. As previously communicated in the August edition of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem)’s Provider News, effective November 1, 2021, AIM Specialty Health ® (AIM), will expand the AIM Musculoskeletal program to perform medical necessity review of the requested site of service for certain joint and interventional pain procedures for Anthem fully-insured members, as outlined below.
AIM will continue to manage the AIM Musculoskeletal program and level of care review. The AIM Level of Care Guideline for Musculoskeletal Surgery and Procedures is used for the level of care review. Prior authorization will now also be required for the clinical appropriateness of the site in which the procedure is performed (site of care). A subset of the AIM musculoskeletal program codes will be reviewed for site of care. A complete list of CPT codes requiring prior authorization for the AIM Musculoskeletal site of care program is available on the AIM Musculoskeletal microsite. AIM will use the following Anthem Clinical UM Guideline: CG-SURG-52: Site of Care: Hospital-Based Ambulatory Surgical Procedures and Endoscopic Services. The clinical criteria to be used for these reviews can be found on the Anthem Provider portal Clinical UM Guidelines page. Please note, this does not apply to procedures performed on an emergent basis.
Members included in the new program
All Commercial fully-insured members currently participating in the AIM Musculoskeletal program are included.
Prior authorization requirements
For services that are scheduled to begin on or after November 1, 2021, providers may contact AIM to obtain prior authorization review beginning October 18, 2021. The following groups are excluded: Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare supplement, MA EGR, and the Federal Employee Program® (FEP®).
Providers may submit prior authorization requests to AIM in one of several ways:
- Access AIM’s ProviderPortallSM directly at providerportal.com. Online access is available 24/7 to process orders in real-time, and is the fastest and most convenient way to request authorization.
- Access AIM via the Availity Web Portal at availity.com.
- Call the AIM Contact Center toll-free number at 800-554-0580, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. ET.
AIM Musculoskeletal training webinars
Anthem invites you to take advantage of a free informational webinar that will introduce you to the program and the robust capabilities of the AIM ProviderPortalSM. Go to the AIM Musculoskeletal microsite to register for an upcoming webinar. If you have previously registered for other services managed by AIM, there is no need to register again.
We value your participation in our network and look forward to working with you to help improve the health of our members.
As we previously communicated, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem)’s Designated Specialty Pharmacy Network requires providers who are not part of the Designated Specialty Pharmacy Network to acquire certain select specialty pharmacy medications administered in the hospital outpatient setting through CVS Specialty Pharmacy.
This update is to advise of the following changes:
Effective for dates of service on and after January 1, 2022, the following specialty pharmacy medications will be added to the Designated Medical Specialty Pharmacy drug list. Accordingly, hospitals that are not in the Designated Specialty Pharmacy Network will be required to acquire these specialty medications administered in the hospital outpatient setting from CVS Specialty Pharmacy.
HCPCS
|
Description
|
Brand Name
|
J1554
|
Injection, immune globulin (asceniv), 500 mg
|
Asceniv
|
J7204
|
Injection, factor viii, antihemophilic factor (recombinant), (esperoct), glycopegylated-exei, per iu
|
Esperoct
|
J7208
|
Injection, factor viii, (antihemophilic factor, recombinant), pegylated-aucl, (jivi), 1 i.u.
|
Jivi
|
J7212
|
Factor viia (antihemophilic factor, recombinant)-jncw (sevenfact), 1 microgram
|
Sevenfact
|
J9144
|
Injection, daratumumab, 10 mg and hyaluronidase-fihj
|
Darzalex Faspro
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To access the current Designated Medical Specialty Pharmacy drug list, please visit anthem.com, select Providers, select Forms and Guides (under the Provider Resources column), select your state, scroll down and select Pharmacy in the Category drop down. The Designated Medical Specialty Pharmacy drug list may be updated periodically by Anthem.
If you have questions or would like to discuss the terms and conditions to be included as a Designated Specialty Pharmacy Network provider, please contact your Anthem Contract Manager. Thank you for your continued participation in the Anthem networks and the services you provide to our members.
Visit Pharmacy Information for Providers on anthem.com for more information on:
- Copayment/coinsurance requirements and their applicable drug classes
- Drug lists and changes
- Prior authorization criteria
- Procedures for generic substitution
- Therapeutic interchange
- Step therapy or other management methods subject to prescribing decisions
- Any other requirements, restrictions, or limitations that apply to using certain drugs
The commercial drug list is posted to the website quarterly (the first of the month for January, April, July and October).
FEP Pharmacy updates and other pharmacy related information may be accessed at www.fepblue.org > Pharmacy Benefits.
*Notice of Material Amendment/Change to Contract (MAC)
Specialty pharmacy updates for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) are listed below.
Prior authorization clinical review of non-oncology use of specialty pharmacy drugs is managed by Anthem’s medical specialty drug review team. Review of specialty pharmacy drugs for oncology use is managed by AIM Specialty Health® (AIM), a separate company.
Please note that inclusion of National Drug Code (NDC) code on your claim will help expedite claim processing of drugs billed with a Not Otherwise Classified (NOC) code.
Site of care updates
Effective for dates of service on and after January 1, 2022, the following specialty pharmacy codes from current or new clinical criteria documents will be included in our site of care review process.
Access our Clinical Criteria to view the complete information for these site of care updates.
Clinical Criteria
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HCPCS or CPT Code(s)
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Drug
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*ING-CC-0062
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Q5121
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Avsola
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*ING-CC-0081
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J0584
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Crysvita
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*ING-CC-0162
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J3241
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Tepezza
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* Non-oncology use is managed by the medical specialty drug review team.
Quantity limit updates
Effective for dates of service on and after January 1, 2022, 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.
Clinical Criteria
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Drug
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HCPCS or CPT Code(s)
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ING-CC-0009
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Lemtrada
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J0202
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ING-CC-0011
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Ocrevus
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J2350
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ING-CC-0014
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Avonex
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J1826
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Q3027
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Betaseron
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J1830
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Copaxone
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J1595
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Extavia
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J1830
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Glatopa
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J1595
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Plegridy
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J3590
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C9399
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Rebif
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J1826
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Q3028
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ING-CC-0020
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Tysabri
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J2323
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ING-CC-0029
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Dupixent
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J3490
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J3590
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ING-CC-0038
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Bonsity
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J3110
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Forteo
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J3110
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Tymlos
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C9399
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J3490
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ING-CC-0042
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Siliq
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C9399
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J3490
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J3590
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Taltz
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C9399
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J3490
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J3590
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ING-CC-0048
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Spinraza
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J2326
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ING-CC-0062
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Avsola
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Q5121
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Erelzi
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J3590
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Eticovo
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J3590
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ING-CC-0066
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Kevzara
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C9399
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J3590
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J3490
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ING-CC-0075
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Riabni
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Q5123
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ING-CC-0077
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Palynziq
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C9399
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J3590
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ING-CC-0082
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Onpattro
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J0222
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ING-CC-0156
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Reblozyl
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J0896
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ING-CC-0159
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Scenesse
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J7352
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ING-CC-0160
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Vyepti
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J3032
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ING-CC-0162
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Tepezza
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J3241
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ING-CC-0163
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Durysta
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J7351
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ING-CC-0170
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Uplizna
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J1823
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ING-CC-0172
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Viltepso
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J1427
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ING-CC-0173
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Enspryng
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J3490
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J3590
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ING-CC-0174
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Kesimpta
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C9399
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J3490
|
J3590
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ING-CC-0177
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Zilretta
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J3304
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ING-CC-0181
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Veklury
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J3490
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ING-CC-0183
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Sogroya
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J3590
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ING-CC-0185
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Oxlumo
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J0224
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ING-CC-0188
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Imcivree
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J3490
|
J3590
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ING-CC-0193
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Evkeeza
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J3490
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C9079
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ING-CC-0194
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Cabenuva
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J3490
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C9077
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Effective November 1, 2021, EnrollSafe will replace CAQH Enrollhub ® as the electronic funds transfer (EFT) enrollment website for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield providers. As of November 1, 2021, CAQH Enrollhub will no longer offer EFT enrollment to new users.
When you sign up for EFT through https://enrollsafe.payeehub.org, the new enrollment website, you’ll receive your payments up to seven days sooner than through the paper check method. Not only is receiving your payment more convenient, so is signing up for EFT. What’s more, it’s easier to reconcile your direct deposits.
EnrollSafe is safe, secure and available 24-hours a day
Beginning November 1, 2021, log onto the EnrollSafe enrollment hub at https://enrollsafe.payeehub.org to enroll in EFT. You’ll be directed through the EnrollSafe secure portal to the enrollment page, where you’ll provide the required information to receive direct payment deposits.
Already enrolled in EFT through CAQH Enrollhub?
If you’re already enrolled in EFT through CAQH Enrollhub, no action is needed unless you are making changes. Your EFT enrollment information will not change as a result of the new enrollment hub.
If you have changes to make, after October 31, 2021, use https://enrollsafe.payeehub.org to update your account.
Electronic remittance advice (ERA) makes reconciling your EFT payment easy and paper-free
Now that you are enrolled in EFT, using the digital ERA is the very best way to reconcile your deposit. You’ll be issued a trace number with your EFT deposit that matches up with your ERA on the Availity* Portal. To access the ERA, log onto availity.com and use the Claims and Payments tab. Select Send and Receive EDI Files, then select Received Files Folder. When using a clearinghouse or billing service, they will supply the 835 ERA for you. You also have the option to view or download a copy of the Remittance Advice through the Remittance Inquiry app.
Effective November 1, 2021, the Clinical Criteria ING-CC-0005 will include a trial and inadequate response or intolerance to two preferred hyaluronan agents in the Part B medical step therapy precertification review. Step therapy review will apply upon precertification initiation, in addition to the current medical necessity review (as-is current procedure). Step therapy will not apply for members who are actively receiving non-preferred medications listed below.
Clinical Criteria are publicly available on the provider website. Visit the Clinical Criteria page to search for specific criteria.
Clinical Criteria
|
Preferred drug(s)
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Nonpreferred drug(s)
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ING-CC-0005
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Euflexxa (J7323)
Supartz FX (J7321)
Durolane (J7318)
Gelsyn-3 (J7328)
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Including but not limited to:
Gel-One (J7326)
GenVisc 850 (J7320)
Hymovis (J7322)
Monovisc (J7327)
Orthovisc (J7324)
Synvisc/Synvisc One (J7325)
TriVisc (J7329)
Hyalgan/Visco-3 (J7321)
Triluron (J7332)
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Instead of faxing multiple pages of medical records for HEDIS® studies, use Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem)’s Remote EMR Access Service we offer to providers that allows us to access your EMR system directly to pull the documentation we need. Our Remote EMR Access Service helps reduce the time and costs associated with medical record retrieval while improving efficiency and lessening the impact on your office staff.
We have a centralized EMR team experienced with multiple EMR systems and extensively trained annually on HIPAA, EMR systems, and HEDIS® measure updates. We complete medical record retrieval based on minimum necessary guidelines:
- We only access medical records of members pulled into the HEDIS® sample using specific demographic data.
- We only retrieve the medical records that have evidence related to the HEDIS® measures.
- We only view face sheets when there are demographic discrepancies.
- We exclude data related to hospice, long-term care, inpatient, and palliative care.
Let us help you! Getting started with Remote EMR Access is just one click away.
Download and complete this registration form and email it to us at Centralized_EMR_Team@anthem.com.
To learn more about our Remote EMR Access Service, view the Frequently Asked Questions below.
How do you retrieve our medical records?
We access your EMR using a secure portal and retrieve only the necessary documentation by printing to an electronic file we store internally, on our secure network drives.
Is printing necessary?
Yes. The NCQA audit requires print-to-file access.
Is this process secure?
Yes. We only use secure internal resources to access your EMR systems. All retrieved records are stored on Anthem secure network drives.
Why does Anthem need full access to the entire medical record?
There are several reasons we need to look at the entire medical record of a member:
- HEDIS® measures can include up to a 10-year look back at a member’s information.
- Medical record data for HEDIS® compliance may come from several different areas of the EMR system, including labs, radiology, surgeries, inpatient stays, outpatient visits, and case management.
- Compliant data may be documented or housed in a non-standard format, such as an in-office lab slip scanned into miscellaneous documents
What information do I need to submit to use your Remote EMR Access Service?
Complete the registration form that requests the following information:
- Practice/facility demographic information (e.g., address, National Provider ID, taxpayer identification numbers, etc.)
- EMR system information (e.g., type of EMR system, required access forms, access type – web based or VPN-to-VPN connection, special requirements needed for access, etc.)
- List of current providers/locations or a website for accessing this list. Also, if applicable, a list of providers affiliated with the group that are not in the EMR System.
HEDIS® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) is offering Special Needs Plans (SNPs) to people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid benefits or who are qualified Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. Some SNPs provide enhanced benefits to people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, which include supplemental benefits such as hearing, dental, vision, and transportation to medical appointments. Some SNP plans include a card or catalog for purchasing over-the-counter items, but SNPs do not charge premiums.
SNP members benefit from a model of care (MOC) that is used by Anthem to assess needs and coordinate care. Each member receives a comprehensive health risk assessment (HRA) within 90 days of enrollment and annually thereafter, which covers physical, behavioral, and functional needs, along with a comprehensive medication review. The HRA is then used to create a member care plan. Members with multiple or complex conditions are assigned a health plan case manager.
SNP HRAs, care plans, and case managers support members and their providers by helping identify and escalate potential problems for early intervention, ensuring appropriate and timely follow-up appointments plus providing navigation and coordination of services across the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Provider training required
Providers contracted for SNP plans are required to complete an annual training to keep up-to-date with plan benefits and requirements, including details on coordination of care and MOC elements. Every provider contracted for SNP is required to complete an attestation stating they have completed their annual training. These attestations are located at the end of the self-paced training document.
To take the self-paced training, please go to the MOC Provider Training link at availity.com.
To access the Custom Learning Center on the Availity Portal:*
- Log in to the Availity Portal at com.
- At the top of the Availity Portal, select Payer Spaces and select the appropriate payer.
- On the Payer Spaces landing page, select Access Your Custom Learning Center from Applications.
- In the Custom Learning Center, select Required Training.
- Select Special Needs Plan and Model of Care Overview.
- Select Enroll.
- Select Start.
- Once the course is completed, select Attestation and complete.
Not registered for the Availity Portal?
Have your organization’s designated administrator register your organization for the Availity Portal.
- Visit com to register.
- Select Register.
- Select your organization type.
- In the Registration wizard, follow the prompts to complete the registration for your organization.
Effective January 1, 2022, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) allows reimbursement of sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests unless provider, state, federal, or CMS contracts and/or requirements indicate otherwise. We consider certain STI testing CPT® codes to be part of a laboratory panel grouping. When Anthem receives a claim with two or more single tests laboratory procedure codes reported, we will bundle those two or more single tests into the comprehensive laboratory procedure code listed below.
Applicable single STI CPT codes:
- 87491: Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); chlamydia trachomatis, amplified probe technique
- 87591: Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); neisseria gonorrhoeae, amplified probe technique
- 87661: Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); trichomonas vaginalis, amplified probe technique
Applicable comprehensive code:
- 87801: Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), multiple organisms; amplified probe(s) technique
Anthem will reimburse the more comprehensive, multiple organism code for infectious agent detection by nucleic acid, amplified probe technique (CPT code 87801), when two or more single test CPT codes are billed separately by the same provider on the same date of service. Reimbursement will be made based on a single unit of CPT code 87801 regardless of the units billed for a single code. No modifiers will override the edit.
For additional information, please review the Sexually Transmitted Infections Testing — Professional reimbursement policy at anthem.com/medicareprovider.
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