Availity network gives providers instant access to information about BCBSIL members' eligibility, benefits, claim status and other relevant information; can be expanded to incorporate medical records and a host of additional functionality that can enhance patient care and reduce costs.

May 27, 2009 — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) announced today that Illinois providers can securely access patient eligibility and benefits information, request authorizations, and submit and monitor claim submissions and status via Availity’s secure web portal, the Availity® Health Information Network. The network was built and is operated by Jacksonville, FL-based Availity, LLC, streamlines providers’ most common, time-consuming administrative tasks. BCBSIL will give Illinois providers access to Availity at no cost.

In addition, Availity can be expanded in the future to give providers and health plans the ability to share medical records, health information and other important data, which can improve quality and efficiency, and ultimately help reduce costs.
“Availity expands BCBSIL’s online functionality and strengthens our online and offline connections to Illinois providers,” says Steve Hamman, BCBSIL’s vice president of Network Management. “The implementation of Availity's platform is an important step in BCBSIL’s efforts to provide solutions that meet physicians’ and hospitals’ administrative needs.”

“We are pleased to play a role in helping Illinois physicians and providers streamline their workflow, reduce their costs and improve their relationships with their patients,” says Julie Klapstein, Availity’s chief executive officer. “Real-time information exchange saves providers and health plans time and money.”
To learn more about the Availity portal or to enroll, please visit www.availity.com or call (800) 282-4548.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
With approximately 7 million members, BCBSIL (www.bcbsil.com) is the largest health insurance company in Illinois. Started in 1936, BCBSIL is committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and its communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. BCBSIL is a division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), a Mutual Legal Reserve Company. HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About Availity, LLC – Patients. Not Paperwork. ®
Availity optimizes information exchange between multiple health care stakeholders through a single, secure network. The Availity Health Information Network encompasses administrative, financial, and clinical services, supporting both real-time and batch exchange via the web, business to business (B2B) integration, and electronic data interchange (EDI). For more information, including an online demonstration, please visit www.availity.com.

Back to the Newsroom