The following information doesn’t apply to delegated Medicare Advantage and HMO claims. It’s provided as a general resource regarding the types of claim reviews and appeals that may be available for commercial non-HMO and Medicaid claims. You should refer to your participating provider agreement and applicable provider manual for information on specific provider claim review or appeal rights.
Requesting a Claim Review
After adjudication, additional evaluation may be necessary (such as place of treatment, procedure/revenue code changes, or out-of-area claim processing issues).
Online claim reconsideration requests: Electronic claim reconsideration requests are available for review and reevaluation of situational finalized commercial claim denials (including BlueCard® out-of-area claims). This method of inquiry submission is preferred over faxed or mailed claim disputes. It allows you to upload supporting documentation and monitor the status via Availity® Essentials.
Refer to claim reconsideration requests for more information and links to instructional user guides.
Claim review forms: One of the specific claim review forms listed below must be faxed, mailed or attached as noted on each form. Each claim review form must include our claim number (the Document Control Number, or DCN), along with the key data elements specified on the forms.
- Claim Review Form – Commercial only
- Additional Information Form – Commercial only
- Corrected Claim Form – Commercial only
- Medicaid Claims Inquiry or Dispute Request Form – Medicaid only
Non-Participating Providers
Claims for certain services may be eligible for payment review under the No Surprises Act if you don’t have a contract with us. Log on to Availity Essentials to request a claim review and initiate a negotiation for NSA-eligible services. See our user guide for more details.
Commercial Appeals
A provider appeal is an official request for reconsideration of a previous denial issued by our Medical Management area. This is different from the request for claim review request process outlined above. Most provider appeal requests are related to a length of stay or treatment setting denial.
- Appeals may be initiated in writing or by telephone, upon receipt of a denial letter and instructions from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois.
- A routing form, along with relevant claim information and any supporting medical or clinical documentation must be included with the appeal request.
- The physician or clinical peer review process takes 30 days and concludes with written notification of appeal determination.
A member appeal may be submitted by the member or their authorized representative, physician, facility or other health care practitioner. Written or verbal authorization from the member is required except for urgent care appeals. Brief descriptions of the various member appeal categories are listed below.
- A clinical appeal is a request to change an adverse determination for care or services that were denied based on lack of medical necessity, or when services are determined to be experimental, investigational or cosmetic. May be pre- or post-service. Review is conducted by a physician. Electronic clinical appeal requests for specific clinical claim denials may be submitted via Availity. When applicable, the Dispute Claim option is available after completing an Availity Claim Status request. See electronic clinical claim appeal requests for more information.
- A non-clinical appeal is a request to reconsider a previous inquiry, complaint or action by BCBSIL that hasn't been resolved to the member’s satisfaction. Relates to administrative health care services such as membership, access, claim payment, etc. May be pre-service or post-service. Review is conducted by a non-medical appeal committee.
- Urgent care or expedited appeals may be requested if the member, authorized representative or physician feels that non-approval of the requested service may seriously jeopardize the member’s health. The physician or facility may request an expedited appeal by calling the number on the member’s ID card.
Medicaid Appeals
A member, a member’s representative, or provider acting on behalf of the member can request a standard appeal within 60 calendar days from the date of the Notice of Action letter.
Refer to the Medicaid appeal process for an overview. Also see the provider manual for more information.
Availity is a trademark of Availity, LLC, a separate company that operates a health information network to provide electronic information exchange services to medical professionals. Availity provides administrative services to BCBSIL. BCBSIL makes no endorsement, representations or warranties regarding third party vendors and the products and services they offer.