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Past Issues

Spring 2004 Hospital News
Address unresolved claim appeals

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and Health Options takes every step to resolve claims issues. If a payment amount issue cannot be resolved, submit an appeal to the Statewide Provider and Health Plan Claim Dispute Resolution Program.

Anesthesia payments updated

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida has updated its anesthesia claims payment formula.

Avoid BlueCard/Medicare claim denials

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and its HMO subsidiary, Health Options, continue to streamline processes and eliminate authorizations where possible.

Gastric bypass surgery excluded in 2005

Because of member safety concerns and our goal to maintain product affordability, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and Health Options have joined other health plans in excluding coverage for weight-loss surgeries and services beginning Jan. 1, 2005.

HMO labor check authorization cut

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and its HMO subsidiary, Health Options, continue to streamline processes and eliminate authorizations where possible.

Maintain privacy

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and Health Options respect member privacy and have policies and procedures in accordance with the Privacy Rule to safeguard personal information in all forms – spoken, written and electronic.

Member ID numbers will change

An important change will occur later this year regarding member identification numbers on ID cards.

Need to change your Availity® PAA?

Your Primary Access Administrator (PAA) is responsible for your office’s Availity electronic transactions. Please update Availity when your PAA changes:

PHS agreements apply to BlueOptions, BlueChoice

As a contracted provider in Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida’s network, you may be seeing members enrolled in BlueChoice and BlueOptions and have questions about how your provider agreement applies to them, including issues such as balance billing.

Some plans are already issuing new IDs

Some Blue Plans have already begun issuing unique ID numbers for their members.

The world of health care is changing

Health care continues to see dramatic changes in the way we conduct business as an industry.

You can reduce claim rejects

Rejected claims delay payment to your hospital and the rework involved wastes your staff time. As we all know, time is money.