When submitting patient information on electronic claims to BCBSIL, it is important to include a valid, two-digit state abbreviation. If you do not include this information, your error report from BCBSIL will specify the following electronic edit, or error code and message: SP5 – Patient State Invalid.

Effective immediately, the severity level of this edit has been set to generate a Warning (“W”) message on your error report. As of Dec. 21, 2009, this edit will be set to Reject (“R”), as we will no longer be able to process electronic claims without a valid two-digit state abbreviation.

If you utilize a billing agent (billing service or clearinghouse), please ensure that they are aware of and responsive to this and other messages specified on the reports you receive from BCBSIL when electronic claims are submitted incorrectly.

Any questions regarding this edit notification may be directed to our Electronic Commerce Center at (800) 746-4614.