A newsletter for Highmark Blue Shield providers in northeastern New York
Issue 6, June 2024
Highmark Blue Shield is beginning the process of moving professional providers in its New York markets onto Highmark Professional Agreements — which are group contracts that match the structure that is in place in all other Highmark service regions. For more information, click here
.
On Jan. 1, 2025, Highmark will launch its High Performing Provider (HPP) Program for practitioners who provide outpatient physical therapy and occupational therapy services. The HPP Program allows greater self-management for providers who meet certain performance metrics. To learn more, go here.
Prior authorization is required for outpatient physical medicine services. When requesting prior authorization for these services via the Predictal™ Auth Automation Hub in Availity®, providers must select “Physical Medicine” as a Sub-Service Type. For step-by-step instructions, click here.
The 28th edition of MCG’s Care Guidelines will be available on Aug. 1, 2024.
After that date, you will be able to submit authorization requests using the 28th edition for any new requests. Any authorization requests with a start of care date prior to Aug. 1, 2024, will be reviewed using the 27th edition.
Please continue to use the Predictal application in Availity® to submit authorization requests with clinical information included.
Effective July 1, 2024, Highmark will transition from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria 3rd Edition to the ASAM Criteria 4th Edition. Highmark uses ASAM criteria to review authorization requests for substance abuse services.
To learn more about the ASAM Criteria 4th Edition, go here.
