November 23, 2021
Checking patient eligibility and benefits via Availity or your preferred web vendor is an imperative first step to confirm coverage and prior authorization requirements before rendering services for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) members. For our non-HMO members, the Availity Eligibility and Benefits Inquiry allows you to quickly confirm prior authorization requirements, along with contact information for utilization management vendors, if applicable.
If prior authorization through AIM Specialty Health (AIM) is required for a requested service, you can use the new single sign-on access to AIM from the Availity portal.
How to Access AIM from the Availity Portal*
- Select Patient Registration from the navigation menu and choose Authorizations & Referrals.
- On the Authorization page, select the AIM (BCBSIL) link in the Additional Authorizations and Referrals section.
- Select your provider organization and provider type, then click Submit.
- You’ll be redirected to the AIM provider portal to start and submit the prior authorization request.
*The single sign-on information above applies only to prior authorization requests handled by AIM. The process for submitting prior authorization requests to BCBSIL or through other utilization management vendors hasn’t changed.
Refer to the Availity Eligibility and Benefits User Guide for help with determining prior authorization requirements and utilization management vendors, if applicable, before providing care and services to our non-HMO members.
Checking eligibility and/or benefit information and/or obtaining prior authorization is not a guarantee of payment. Benefits will be determined once a claim is received and will be based upon, among other things, the member’s eligibility and the terms of the member’s certificate of coverage, including, but not limited to, exclusions and limitations applicable on the date services were rendered. If you have any questions, call the number on the member's ID card.
AIM Specialty Health (AIM) is an independent company that has contracted with BCBSIL to provide utilization management services for members with coverage through BCBSIL. 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 any products or services provided by third party vendors such as AIM or Availity.