Prepare for the Consolidated Appropriations Act: Keep your provider directory information up to date

As we announced in the October 2021 edition of Provider News, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) and our affiliate HealthKeepers, Inc. are working to comply with the requirements of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, or CAA.

 

Improving the accuracy of provider directory information

 

As part of the CAA, soon providers will be asked to verify their online provider directory information on a regular basis to help ensure Anthem members can locate the most current information for in-network providers and facilities. It is important that you keep your information up to date. Here’s what you can do now:

 

• Review your online provider directory information on a regular basis to ensure it is correct. You can check your directory listing on Anthem’s Find Care Consumers, members, brokers, and providers use the Find Care tool to identify in-network physicians and other healthcare providers supporting member health plans. To ensure we have your most current and accurate information, please take a moment to access Find Care. Go to anthem.com, select Providers, then under Provider Overview, choose Find Care.

 

• Submit updates and corrections to your directory information by using our online Provider Maintenance Form. Online update options include:

 

Add/change an address location

Name change

Tax ID changes

Provider leaving a group or a single location

Phone/fax number changes

Closing a practice location

 

Once you submit the Provider Maintenance Form, you will receive an email acknowledging receipt of your request.  Visit the Virginia Provider Maintenance Form landing page for complete instructions.

 

Consolidated Appropriations Act implementation

 

The Consolidated Appropriations Act does not preempt state law requirements. This means that the CAA applies in addition to any state law requirements of providers to update their provider directory information.

 

On August 20, 2021, the Tri-Agencies (Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury) announced that regulations to implement the provider directory requirements would be issued on or after January 1, 2022.  Health plans are expected to implement the provider directory requirements based on a good faith, reasonable interpretation of the requirements by  January 1, 2022, with a primary focus on ensuring that members who rely on provider directory information that inaccurately depicts a provider’s network status are only liable for in-network cost sharing amounts. Anthem is moving forward with compliance of this good faith, reasonable interpretation of the requirements while awaiting additional regulatory guidance.

 

Watch for upcoming editions of Provider News in 2022 for updates on our ongoing efforts to comply with the CAA requirements.

 

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