Summber 2009

Triple-S to acquire Blue Cross of Puerto Rico and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of US Virgin Islands July 1

Triple-S Management Corporation, the Blue Shield licensee in Puerto Rico, has signed a Definitive Agreement to acquire managed care assets of Blue Cross of Puerto Rico (La Cruz Azul de Puerto Rico, Inc.). Both the Blue Cross brand in Puerto Rico and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brands in U.S. Virgin Islands are scheduled to transition to Triple-S on July 1, 2009.

Following are the guidelines for claims submission:

Blue Cross of Puerto Rico

• You should no longer accept La Cruz Azul de Puerto Rico ID cards with alpha prefixes ZTA, ZTB, ZTC and ZTD after June 30, 2009. Claims for institutional services rendered after this date will not be reimbursed through the BlueCard^® Program.
• For institutional services provided for Blue Cross of Puerto Rico members prior to July 1, 2009, submit all claims to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) by Jan. 1, 2010.
• Original claims and adjustments submitted after Jan. 1, 2010, for institutional services provided prior to July 1, 2009, will not be reimbursed through BlueCard.
• All Blue Cross of Puerto Rico membership will be enrolled with Triple-S effective July 1, 2009.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of U.S. Virgin Islands

• Relicensing of U.S. Virgin Islands will not impact Florida physicians and providers because only services incurred in U.S. Virgin Islands will require submission by the established deadline.
• Effective July 1, 2009, Triple-S will assume responsibility for processing U.S. Virgin Islands claims for services incurred in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

This acquisition does not affect how you submit claims or obtain eligibility and benefits for these BlueCard members from Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands. Continue to submit your claims to BCBSF and call the BlueCard Eligibility Line at (800) 676-BLUE (2583).

Note: If the acquisition date changes, we will advise you by posting a bulletin on our website.