Posted in BCBS Empire NY, NY Providers, Payers and CPT reinbursement, Pharmacy (Various Insurance Payers), Training, Updates

BCBS Empire NY Medicaid: Reimbursement for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) Counseling program

If you are a pediatrician that provides vaccination counseling for patients under 18 years of age and younger then this blog post is for you!

The following is a clarification on the proper coding and billing for or provider reimbursement for pediatric vaccine counseling visits as part of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) program.


This reimbursement policy applies to Medicaid members (Empire BCBS).

Note: Vaccine counseling visits align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)


The following is the correct CPT code with the ICD-10 code that the providers would use in order to get proper reimbursement.

 CPT® codeFeeNotes
Claims basedCPT 99401DX: Z71.85$12.50A provider submitting professional claims should bill Current Procedure Terminology (CPT) code 99401 for preventive medicine counseling and/or risk factor reduction intervention(s) provided to an individual (separate procedure) for reimbursement for childhood vaccine counseling. A minimum of eight minutes is required and recommended for ages 18 years or younger.
via Empire BCBS Medicaid Updates

Documentation requirements: In order to get paid for the above mentioned code, the providers need to document the following in either the medical record or a pharmacy record.

  • CPT 99402: Preventive medicine counseling and/or risk factor reduction intervention(s) provided to an individual (separate procedure).
  • Providers should bill CPT 99402 with ICD-10 code Z71.85.
  • Confirm vaccination status in the New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS) or City Immunization Registry (CIR), whenever possible.
  • Providers are encouraged to counsel all members who have not already have an appointment scheduled to receive the vaccine dose for which they are being counseled.
  • For more information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html

Find this type of information useful? Follow my blog for more proper medical billing and coding guidelines/updates, reimbursement policy changes and much more!


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Posted in MVP (NY/VT) Insurance Payer, Pharmacy (Various Insurance Payers), Prior Authorization Insurance Carrier Updates, Training, Updates

MVP NY Medicaid Patients: coverage for Farxiga tablets

If you are a physician prescribing Farxiga for any of your patients that have NY MVP Medicaid Coverage, this blog post is for you!


Farxiga may be considered for coverage when used for one of the applicable FDA-approved indications including:

  1. For the reduction of heart failure hospitalizations in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and
    established cardiovascular (CV) disease or multiple CV risk factors
  2. For the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (NYHA classes II to IV) to
    reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure
  3. For the treatment of chronic kidney disease to reduce the risk of sustained eGFR decline, endstage kidney disease, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization for heart failure in those at-risk
    of disease progression

There are 2 other medications that are on the MVP Formulary that do not require prior authorization (such as Segluromet and Steglatro).


If the patient requires Farxiga then the physician needs to obtain a prior authorization.

Please follow the steps: (ALL requests have to have documentation submitted to support the use of Farxiga)

A. Visit mvphealthcare.com/Providers and Sign In to your Provider online account to use the new electronic prior authorization tool powered by Novologix®.
B. Complete the appropriate MVP prior authorization form, which can be accessed at
mvphealthcare.com/Providers, then select Forms, then under Prior Authorization, select the appropriate form in the Pharmacy section. Then, fax completed request form to MVP at 1-800-376-6373.
C. Submit a request through Surescripts.com or CoverMyMeds.com. ( covermymeds is also available on NAVINET)


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Posted in Pharmacy (Various Insurance Payers), Training, Updates

NY/CA UHC CommunityHealthPlan: updated info for Xolair and Synagis auth, 04/01/2021

Starting 04/01/2021- the providers will need to request an authorization for Xolair and Synagris if they plan on billing through patient medical benefit. (Community Health Plan)

This change applies to providers in CA and NY (community health plans).

These requirements will apply whether members are new to therapy or have already been receiving these medications.

UHC will honor existing authorizations for Xolair until the end date on the authorization or the date the member’s eligibility changes.

Providers don’t need to submit a new prior authorization request for members who already have an authorization for Xolair on April 1, 2021.

You can submit prior authorization requests in the following ways:

  • Online: Use the Prior Authorization and Notification tool on Link. Go to UHCprovider.com/paan.
  • Call: Use the Provider Services phone number on the member’s health care identification card.