UPDATE: Company to implement provider claim payment dispute process for Commercial lines of business on September 21

In the August 2021 edition of Provider News, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and our affiliate HealthKeepers, Inc. announced that we would be implementing a more streamlined provider payment dispute process for claims for our Commercial lines of business.  The process is already in place for claims for members enrolled in our Anthem HealthKeepers Plus (Medicaid) and Medicare Advantage benefit plans.  

 

Originally scheduled for August 17, the implementation date is now scheduled for September 21, 2021.  We regret any inconvenience this delay may have caused. 

 

Provider payment dispute process details

 

For easy reference, we are including information below shared in our August 2021 edition of Provider News.

Unlike claims status inquiries, clinical appeals, or requests for additional information, provider claim payment disputes occur after a claim is finalized, and providers disagree with the claim payments Anthem has issued.  Some examples include claim disputes regarding manual processing errors, contract interpretation, reduced payments, code editing issues, other health insurance denials, eligibility issues, timely filing issues,* and so forth.

 

By aligning the provider claim dispute process across our lines of business, we’re working to have a more cohesive and efficient approach for providers when:

 

• Filing a claim payment dispute.
• Sending supporting documentation to Anthem.
• Checking the status of a claim payment dispute.
• Viewing the history of a claim payment dispute.

 

* We will consider reimbursement of a claim that has been denied due to failure to meet timely filing if you can: 1) provide documentation that the claim was submitted within the timely filing requirements; or 2) demonstrate good cause exists.

 

How the provider claim payment dispute process works

 

For Anthem in Virginia, the provider claim payment dispute process consists of two steps:
STEP 1	Claim payment reconsideration: As the first step, the reconsideration represents providers’ initial request for an investigation into the outcome of the claim. Most issues are resolved at the claim payment reconsideration step.  Providers may submit the claim dispute via customer service (refer to the phone number on the back of the member’s ID card), in writing or via Availity.   However, providers are encouraged to submit all reconsiderations via Availity.  Providers are only allowed one claim payment reconsideration per claim.   Anthem will make every effort to resolve the claims payment reconsideration within 30 calendar days of receipt. If additional information is required to make a determination, the determination date may be extended by 30 additional calendar days. We will mail you a written extension letter before the expiration of the initial 30 calendar days.
STEP 2	Claim payment appeal: In this second step, providers who disagree with the outcome of the reconsideration may request an additional review as a claim payment appeal.  However, we cannot process an appeal without a reconsideration on file.  Providers may submit the claim dispute in writing or via Availity, but providers are encouraged to submit all appeals via Availity.    When submitting a claim payment appeal, please include as much information as you can to help us understand why you think the reconsideration determination was in error. If a claim payment appeal requires clinical expertise, it will be reviewed by appropriate Anthem clinical professionals.   Anthem will make every effort to resolve the claim payment appeal within 60 calendar days of receipt. If additional information is required to make a determination, the determination date may be extended by 60 additional calendar days. We will mail you a written extension letter before the expiration of the initial 60 calendar days.

 

Submitting claim payment disputes in writing

 

When submitting a claim payment dispute in writing, providers must include the Claim Information/ Adjustment Request 151 Form and submit to:

 

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Provider Payment Disputes

P.O. Box 27401

Richmond, VA 23279

Submitting claim payment disputes via Availity

 

For step-by-step instructions to submit a claim payment dispute through Availity:

 

• Log into Availity at availity.com.
• Select Help & Training | Find Help.
• Under Contents, select Overpayments and Appeals.
• Select Dispute a Claim.

 

Through Availity, you can upload supporting documentation and receive immediate acknowledgement of your submission. You do not need to attach a Claim Information/Adjustment Request 151 Form for Commercial claims or a Claim Payment Appeal Form when using Availity.

 

Anthem’s review and providers’ other options

 

Anthem will review the claim payment dispute once received and communicate an outcome in writing or through the Availity Portal.  Providers can check the status of a claim payment dispute on the Availity portal at any time.

 

If a provider still disagrees with the reconsideration, the provider can then choose to submit the claim payment appeal. Once the claim payment appeal is submitted, the decision is final.  A claim payment dispute may not be submitted again.  Providers can contact their state regulatory agency for additional assistance.

 

Anthem requires providers to use our claims payment reconsideration process if providers feel a claim was not processed correctly.

 

Once providers complete both the Reconsideration and Appeal processes, providers can contact their Provider Experience Consultant for further assistance.  However, providers are required to complete both the Reconsideration and Appeal processes before contacting their Provider Experience Representative for further assistance.

 

Webinars available

 

To learn more about the claim dispute tool, register for a live webinar:

 

• Log in to Availity and select Help & Training | Get Trained.
• Select Sessions and go to Your Calendar to locate a webinar.
• Select View Course and then select Enroll.
• The Availity Learning Center will email you with instructions to attend.

 

As always, providers can refer to the Provider Manual in their provider contracts, as the manual includes additional information about inquiries, the provider claim dispute process, reconsiderations and appeals.  As a reminder, the above notice does not impact the Federal Employee Program.

 

The above notice applies to our Commercial lines of business.  However, the notice does NOT impact the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan (also called the Federal Employee Program^® or FEP^®).

 

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