Blue Cross Newsletter
 

 

June 21, 2006

 

BC-06-09
HP-06-07
SA-06-07

 

HHA-06-07
DC-06-07
To:

All Blue Cross Contracting Providers


                  
From: Donna Bartee, Communications Representative
Institutional Relations
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
An Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
Subject:

Blue Member ID Cards Do Not Include Social Security Numbers

Kansas’ providers already know that to protect the privacy of our members, BCBSKS switched from using Social Security numbers to assigning randomly selected ID numbers.  But did you know that all Blue Plans are sensitive to member concerns about identity theft and that as of 2006, nearly all Plans have replaced Social Security numbers on member ID cards with an alternate identifier. 

The new identifier begins with the three-character alpha prefix and may be followed by up to fourteen more characters, any combination of letters and numbers. Although, like BCBSKS, the majority of member ID numbers still use only nine characters following the alpha prefix, some numbers assigned by other Blue Plans will be shorter and some will be longer. 
As a provider servicing out-of-area members, you may find the following tips helpful:

  • Ask the member for their most current ID card at every visit.  New ID cards may be issued at any time during the year and by asking for their current card at each visit, you’ll have the most up-to-date information in your patient’s file.
  • Verify with the member that the ID number on the card is not his/her Social Security Number.  If it is, call the BlueCardâ Eligibility line 1-800-676-BLUE to verify the ID number.
  • Make copies of the front and back of the member’s ID card and pass this key information on to your billing staff.
  • When filing the claim, always enter the identification number exactlyas it appears on the member’s card, including the three-character alpha prefix. The alpha prefix is critical for eligibility/benefits verification and claims processing.
  • Never add or omit characters from the member ID number.

Eligibility and claim status information for Kansas’ members and out-of-area members is available through the BCBSKS web site www.bcbsks.com (provider services section).  If after using the online inquiry process, additional information is needed, call:

BlueCard Program
 -benefits and eligibility for out-of-area members

1-800-676-BLUE (2583)

BlueCard Program
-claim inquiries for out-of-area members

1-800-432-3990 ext 4058

Provider Benefit Line
-benefits and eligibility for Kansas members

1-800-432-0272

BCBSKS customer service center
-claim inquiries for Kansas members

1-800-432-3990

More information about the BlueCard program is available in the BCBSKS Institutional Provider Manual.

Information in this newsletter was developed in part by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Drb