Vendor Meetings
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas EDI Services
Vendor Call Minutes
March 16, 2006
General Announcements:
- Companion Documents are being reviewed and updates should be completed for posting to the website by early April.
- The EDI Enrollment/Change of Information form is in the process of being updated. Trading partners will be able to complete and submit the new form through the website. Vendors using the old forms are asked to get copies of the new forms for distribution. The new
forms should be available in early April.
System Updates:
- The next system deployment is scheduled for Sunday, April 2, 2006.
- The proposed update the Universal Power Supply scheduled for March has been delayed. The new date is scheduled for June 11, 2006 and downtime is expected to be from 8:00 a.m. to midnight.
- Vendors are asked to limit the file names to 28 characters. The EDI Help Desk cannot identify a file when the file name is longer than 28 characters and they are finding it difficult to assist customers.
Medicare A and B:
- The Medicare Call Centers have new hours of operation:
| Medicare A: |
Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
|
2nd & 4th Friday of the Month
Closed 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Medicare B: |
Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
1st and 3rd Friday of the Month
Closed 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. |
- Medicare MCS EDI Edit Reports will be delivered to the trading partner mailboxes within 24 – 72 hours after the Claims Confirmation Report.
BCBSKS:
ASK Payers:
- EDI Midwest – EDI Midwest Reports will be delivered to the trading partner mailboxes within 24 – 72 hours after the Claim Confirmation Report.
835 Information:
- Test remittance advices will not be recreated for any payer. If a trading partner wants a file to match the paper remit, they will need to be moved to production.
- Medicare is expecting to move to a one-week payment and remit cycle at sometime in the near future. Vendors are encouraged to watch for notification on the Medicare website.
- Remit Timing by Payer:
- Medicare A – Received Monday through Friday.
- Medicare B – Received Tuesday through Friday.
- BCBSKS – Tuesdays around 1:00 a.m.
- BCBSKC – Daily.
- HNNY – Daily. Largest files on Monday.
Telecommunications Changes:
- The Kansas City Terminal Server will be turned off on March 31. Providers using this server are currently dialing 816-501-0012. These providers will need to change their dialup phone number to 785-291-9909. Trading partners have been contacted regarding this change.
- Preferred method of electronic transactions:
- Non-Medicare can use the ASK website at (www.ask-edi.com), or they may select a Network Services Vendor, such as Ivans (www.ivans.com/bcbskansas) or VisionShare (http://www.visionshareinc.com/Kansas/index.cfm).
- Medicare ONLY (PPTN and FISS access must use a NSV). The preferred method of connecting is a Network Service Vendor such as Ivans and VisionShare. (www.ivans.com/bcbskansas) or VisionShare (http://www.visionshareinc.com/Kansas/index.cfm).
- Both Medicare and Non-Medicare – if the trading partner submits claims through the ASK website, Medicare claims will have to be transmitted separately though a Medicare approved method.
270/271 Issues:
- BCBSKS is in production.
- BCBSKC will be moved to production on February 21, 2006.
276/277 Issues:
- Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B will be creating a new 276 reject report for bad 276 requests. Currently the reports are being developed and tested, however, they have not been beta tested yet.
- Medicare Part A beta testing is going well.
- BCBSKS is in production.
- BCBSKC will be moved to production on February 21, 2006.
278 Issues:
- BCBSKS is in production.
- BCBSKC will be moved to production on February 21, 2006.
Open Discussion:
- A question was asked about payments being held in September 2006. After researching the question it was discovered that for Medicare to meet the CMS requirements listed in CR4349, or MM4349, Medicare payments scheduled for September 22, 2006 through September 30, 2006 will be held. This
will help CMS meet Section 5203 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2006.
We want to encourage you and your clients to share suggestions and ideas on how EDI Services can better assist. Please send an email to askedi@ask-edi.com. Blue Cross and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas as a Carrier and Intermediary would
like to ask you to submit to medicareedi@bcbsks.com suggestions on how we can better service you. Information posted to the web etc.,
The next regularly scheduled conference call is 04/20/2006.
Phone Number: 1-877-326-2337 – Pass code 2102557
Web Addresses:
www.kansasmedicare.com www.ask-edi.com
www.nebraskamedicare.com www.bcbsks.com
www.nwmissourimedicare.com www.bcbskc.com
Email Address: Phone:
askedi@ask-edi.com 800-472-6481
MedicareEDI@bcbsks.com
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