
Understanding the BCBS PPA List can be overwhelming, but it's essential to navigate the world of health insurance. Prior approval is a crucial step in the process, ensuring that your treatment is deemed medically necessary.
To initiate the prior approval process, you'll need to contact your healthcare provider and request a pre-service review. This review assesses the medical necessity of your treatment, and if approved, you'll receive a prior authorization number.
The prior approval process typically takes 2-14 days, depending on the complexity of your case. This timeframe may vary depending on the specific health plan you're enrolled in.
Keep in mind that some treatments may require pre-service review, while others may not. It's essential to check your BCBS PPA list to determine which treatments require prior approval.
Intriguing read: Bcbs Prefix Ppa
Prior Approval Items
Prior Approval Items are services that require pre-approval from Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) before they can be covered. This list includes a variety of medical services.
If this caught your attention, see: Blue Cross Community Prior Authorization Form
Cosmetic and Reconstructive Services, such as those listed for "Cosmetic and Reconstructive Procedures", require prior approval.
Surgery, including procedures listed under "Surgery", also requires prior approval.
Prior approval is also required for transport by land, air, or water, as stated in the section "This includes transport by land, air, or water".
Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) services, including those monitored during gastrointestinal endoscopy, bronchoscopy, or interventional pain procedures, require prior approval.
Some services, like Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), may require prior approval when benefits apply.
Surgery, again, requires prior approval.
External Insulin Pumps, as well as Artificial Pancreas Device Systems, require prior approval in certain cases.
Additional visits beyond the defined benefit limit for services like Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy Medicine, and Speech Language Pathology/Therapy Services require prior approval.
Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation also requires prior approval.
Here are the Prior Approval Items listed in a table for easy reference:
Health Plan Details
When choosing a health plan, it's essential to understand the different types of plans available.
A Fully Insured plan covers a wide range of medical procedures without any additional costs to the patient.
ASO plans, on the other hand, are partially self-insured, meaning the employer bears some of the costs.
HMO plans have a network of doctors and hospitals that patients must use to receive coverage.
To ensure that your medical procedure is covered, review the following categories: Medical Procedure, Medical Drugs, and Behavioral Service.
Here's a breakdown of what each category entails:
- Medical Procedure: This includes surgeries, tests, and treatments.
- Medical Drugs: This includes prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs.
- Behavioral Service: This includes counseling, therapy, and mental health services.
Sources
- https://www.bluecrossvt.org/prior-approval-database
- https://www.bluecrossnc.com/providers/prior-authorization/services-requiring-ppa
- https://www.bcbsok.com/provider/claims/claims-eligibility/utilization-management/pa-lists
- https://www.arkansasbluecross.com/providers/resource-center/prior-approval-for-requested-services
- https://providers.anthem.com/california-provider/claims/prior-authorization-lookup-tool
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