Vendor Meetings

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas EDI Services
Vendor Call Minutes
June 15, 2006

General Announcements:

• On Sunday, June 25, 2006, the ASK website (www.ask-edi.com) will be unavailable from 4:00 P.M. through Midnight. This is starting earlier than the usual maintenance time, but is needed for additional updates to the system.     
• The installation of the Universal Power Supply was completed successfully on June 11, 2006.  Thank you for your patience.
• The Just ASK User Group Meetings are done and they were a success. Copies of the handouts used in the meetings are available at the ASK website, under Events. This includes the PC ACE Pro32 Advanced Options handout used at the meeting, with instructions to file MSP claims.
• Kansas Medicare A has been assigned a new data center by CMS. Transition to the new data center will occur mid September and be completed Thanksgiving weekend in November. This should be a smooth transition with little or no impact to you or the providers. As information is received we will share via the vendor call and also through information posted at the Medicare website.
• The Vendor Directory is updated and posted to all websites every 60 days. To be a part of the production vendor listing requires the vendor to have a client in production status for the EDI transaction listed. Requests for updates can be given to the EDI Help Desk at 1.800.472.6481, option 1. 

System Updates:

• The next system deployment is scheduled for Sunday, July 9, 2006.

Upcoming Events:

• 6/22-6/23/06 – KMGMA Spring 2006 Conference, Wichita, KS

All Payer Information:

• Edits posted to all websites on March 1, 2006 as warnings will move to rejections on July 1, 2006.
• Only the contact person listed under a Trading Partner can request to have a password reset or unsuspended. Vendors are encouraged to have providers list more than one contact person for each Trading Partner.
• NPI is making progress and everyone is encouraged to sign up for the NPI email notifier.  Providers and vendors should also check with each payer for the latest NPI information.
• Information regarding BCBSKS secondary claims is posted at the BCBSKS website under newsletter S-02-05. BCBSKS is working hard to remove barriers.
• BCBSKC is now able to accept the NPI number on claims submitted with the legacy numbers currently in use.
• Providers should report their new NPI numbers to the payers. Payers will notify the EDI department when new NPI numbers are received. EDI will send a confirmation letter to Trading Partners when updates are completed.

835 Information:

• All Trading Partners setup to begin receiving the 835 transactions will be set to production.
• Information regarding remittance advices for June 1, 2006 has been posted to the Medicare website. Medicare B moved to a twice-weekly remittance advice on June 1.  All Medicare B remittance advices will be distributed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  June 1, Medicare B also suppressed standard paper remittance advices 45 days after Trading Partner is setup for 835 transactions.

276/277 Issues:

• Medicare Part A is currently reporting issues from FISS. With the data center move announce this may not be resolved until the transition is completed.
• Medicare B 276/277 will not be available until July 9, 2006.  Issues are still being reported.

Telecommunications Changes:

• Discontinuation of the toll-free dialup numbers for electronic transactions for asynchronous or FTP file transfers is scheduled for August 1, 2006. Trading Partners can still use a dialup connection, but the access will be through a local Topeka number. We will work with client to help determine the best solution for their office.

Provider Communications:

• The latest issue of the Just ASK! Newsletter was posted on the ASK website on June 14, 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 07/20/2006.
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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