Medical Billing Forum

General Category => New! => : ste September 20, 2015, 05:09:23 AM

: No calls allowed from billing services.
: ste September 20, 2015, 05:09:23 AM
I noticed this message on the Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield web portal.

Important Notice:
If you are not already registered with Availity, please register now using the links below. Please Note:  On September 21st Regence will no longer be taking phone calls from Billing Service providers.  If you use a third party billing service, to ensure that they have access to the information they need, please help them register for the Availity Web Portal and the Availity Dental Portal.

Can an insurance company refuse to take calls from a billing service?

: Re: No calls allowed from billing services.
: Michele September 20, 2015, 09:24:02 PM
We have encountered situations where the insurance carrier will not speak to us until they have a copy of the BAA on file.  We have also spoken to insurance carriers who have told us that we have to obtain the information from Availity but I don't believe they said it was because we were a billing service, but they may have.  I think many of the insurance carriers are encouraging use of online or automated systems to cut back on their need for live bodies.  I'm not sure legally where they stand.  We prefer the automated or web portals whenever possible so we don't run into this much. But of course there is always that one that requires a live person.  :)
: Re: No calls allowed from billing services.
: ste September 21, 2015, 12:08:27 AM
I, too, prefer automated web portals when ever possible but when certain specialties like acupuncture are always omitted and their inability to indicate when a deductible is or isn't waived a phone call becomes the rule and not the exception.
: Re: No calls allowed from billing services.
: Michele September 21, 2015, 10:52:43 AM
Yes, we deal with acupuncture too.  There are always some that do require that call unfortunately.  I wish I could give you more information.  Maybe call and ask what you are supposed to do when the information that is needed is not available on Availity.  It seems ridiculous that you would have to have the provider call themselves for something that is handled by a service they pay for!
: Re: No calls allowed from billing services.
: ste September 28, 2015, 04:54:44 AM
Over the last week availity.com has dramatically increased access to patient benefits. Entire benefit booklets are beginning to open up. I am beginning to foresee a time when phone calls may not be necessary.
: Re: No calls allowed from billing services.
: PMRNC September 29, 2015, 01:20:33 PM
If you have a contract and a BAA with your client, as a medical billing company you access their portal's, make calls, etc ON BEHALF of that provider.. NOT as a billing company. This should also be addressed IN Your contracts!