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September 25, 2007

Blue Cross (Michigan chapter) has announced plans to expand its healthcare EDI (electronic data interchange) clearinghouse and portal with information on Traditional Medicare enrollees.

Beginning early next year, BCBSM will add Traditional Medicare eligibility and benefit information to its online clearinghouse, allowing Michigan physicians and hospitals to verify benefits and coverage for beneficiaries enrolled in the program.

Blue Cross' enhanced portal information will combine Traditional Medicare eligibility and benefit information to already existing benefit and eligibility information on individuals enrolled in BCBSM, Blue Care Network and Medicaid plans.

BCBSM claims that, with the addition of the new information, the vast majority of insured lives in Michigan will become available to medical providers seeking eligibility and benefit information through the BCBSM website.

State Governor Jennifer Granholm said “these enhancements are in support of a statewide initiative and by other public and private organizations to make Michigan a leader in health information exchange. Providing vital information in one place instead of multiple sites helps ease the administrative burden for medical providers.”

Called Web-DENIS, since mid-2006, the BCBSM website has been adopted and used by more than 30,000 Michigan physicians and other providers, all Michigan hospitals and medical facilities and medical billers.

BCBSM says that about 90 percent of physician offices in Michigan use the system everyday.

BCBSM is participating in Michigan’s initiative on health information exchange, which seeks to improve quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery by minimizing redundant data collection, meeting national standards for information exchange, encouraging patient centered care and promoting patient safety and quality.

The BCBSM electronic data clearinghouse is expected to process 200 million health insurance transactions in 2007. The portal used by medical providers is expected to process an additional 70 million inquiries or transactions.

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Source: Medic-Michigan Online News