Vendor Meetings
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas EDI Services
Vendor Call Minutes
November 17, 2005
CMS is reporting the National Percentage for migration to the HIPPA formats at 99.71%. The claim contingency plan was ended by CMS in October 2005.
General Announcements:
- Open Discussion
- ASK would like to gather information from the vendors about plans to begin using NPI.
- When will vendors begin system modifications?
- When will Trading Partners receive updates for NPI?
- The Smart Transfer Menu is scheduled to change 12/4/2005. Menu item number 4 for Online PICS will be removed. There should be no impact on Trading Partners.
- Effective 12/04/2005, password requirements on the EDI System will change.
- The next EDI system deployment is scheduled for Sunday December 4, 2005.
- A new reports manual will be published to the website during December 2005. The new manual will include information on naming formats for the EDI System.
System Updates:
Upcoming Events:
- BCBSKS will be closed for Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25, 2005 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. All systems will be available as usual, but the Help Desk will not be available for calls.
MCS Transition:
- A MCS System Problem/Resolution log is posted to the Medicare website under MCS Transition. Everyone is encouraged to review the log before reporting additional problems.
- MCS Updates will be covered in the Medicare Ask the Contractor call scheduled for November 17, 2005 at 1:30. Information on these calls is available on the Medicare website.
BCBSKS Reported Issue:
- An issue was identified on November 11, 2005. Anesthesia claims submitted electronically from October 31 until November 11, 2005 had problems with the minutes being reported incorrectly. BCBSKS has identified the sites and made internal adjustments to correct the problem. Providers are asked to not resubmit claims.
EDI Midwest Status:
835 Information:
- Medicare B has begun an aggressive approach to eliminate paper remits and promote the use of electronic remits. Medicare B is providing free software, Easy Print, to be used for converting an electronic remit to print image. This software does not post payments and is not available for use with any other payer. Medicare A began eliminating paper remits in July 2005.
- Medicare A submitted to FISS an issue concerning remittance advice for both paper and electronic reflecting – "CO" and "96" on an Remittance advice."
- The CO is in the 835 4010A1 Loop 2100 CAS01 segment = Contractual Obligations
- The 96 is in the 835 4010A1 Loop 2100 CAS02 segment = Non- covered charge(s).
Telecommunications Changes:
- Asych options are in the process of being eliminated. All vendors are encouraged to move their customers to other communications options for file transfer. Internet options along with other options are still available.
270/271 Issues:
- BCBSKS is currently in production and everything appears to be working.
- Program changes are currently scheduled for BCBSKC transactions. These changes are scheduled for January 15, 2006 and then testing will begin again.
276/277 Issues:
- Medicare A has reported an issue to FISS. FISS is currently working on a fix however does not know when the fix will be implemented.
- The Medicare B MCS Transition is complete and testing can begin again.
- BCBSKS currently in production with no problems.
- Program changes are currently scheduled for BCBSKC transactions. These changes are scheduled for January 15, 2006 and then testing will begin again.
Provider Communications
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 12/15/2005.
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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