Posted in Uncategorized

UHC Medicare Advantage: Prior auth for Radiation Policy 1/1/24

For DOS 1/1/24 and thereafter UHC Medicare Advantage Plans that are part of Preferred Care Partners or Preferred Care Network (South Florida Region and are managed by UHC prior auth department) will require prior authorization for the following services:

  • Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
  • Proton beam therapy (PBT)
  • Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), including stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)
  • Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT)
  • Special and associated services (e.g., dosimetry and special physics consults)
  • Hypofractionation (fractionation) using IMRT, PBT and standard 2D/3D radiation therapy for prostate, breast, lung and bone metastasis cancers
  • Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), Yttrium 90 (Y90) and implantable beta-emitting microspheres for treatment of malignant tumors

UHC Oncology Radiation Policy can be found here: https://www.uhcprovider.com/content/dam/provider/docs/public/policies/medadv-coverage-sum/radiation-oncologic-procedures.pdf


This prior authorization policy does not apply to the Medicare Advantage Plans as part of Preferred Care Partners or Preferred Care Network that are managed by Wellmed. For these members please refer to the WellMed website: https://eprg.wellmed.net/


Providers that perform any or all of these services should request an auth by following the below-listed steps:

  • Go to UHCprovider.com and click Sign In at the top right corner
  • Enter your One Healthcare ID and password
  • In the menu, select Prior Authorizations
  • Scroll down to “Create a new notification or prior authorization request” and click Create New Submissions
  • Select the following information:
    • Service type: Radiation Oncology
    • Product type: Medicare
    • State: Florida

Providers can start prior authorization requests on the UHCProvider portal starting Dec 15,2023. Any authorization approved in December of 2023 will have a start date of 1/1/2024 or thereafter.


Providers that require assistance with prior authorization process can click hrere: https://chameleoncloud.io/review/4450-6060ba8182113/prod


Find this type of content useful? Subscribe to my blog for the most current information that relates to the healthcare industry. Topics may include medical billing and coding guidelines, reimbursement policy updates, and anything in between.


Latest Blog Posts:

UHC to remove prior auth for some radiology and cardiology tests.

Starting Jan 1, 2026 certain nuclear imaging tests, OBGYN ultrasounds, and certain cardiology tests will no longer require a prior authorization for some of the  following plan types: 1.UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company2.UnitedHealthcare Mid-Atlantic, inc. 3.UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley, Inc. and 4.UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of the River Valley5.Oxford Health Insurance, Inc.United Healthcare Level Funded (formerly All…

Anthem BCBS NY: New PET tracer UM policy

The following information will apply to any DOS on 12/1/25 and thereafter. Starting 12/1/25 the PET tracer will require an auth in addition to PET services. Please submit both PET and radiotracer codes- for prior authorization. The UM criteria for PET will not be affected. However both codes will be either approved or denied. Please…

PrEP proper billing and coding

Proper Medical coding and billing is important to the financial health of your practice! Medication codes: Administration code Please avoid using the regular 96372 administration code. Instead use the following administration code: G0012 This code is used when the provider physically administers the PrEP medication. Supply Code For the oral PrEP pharmacies should bill: Q0251…

Posted in Uncategorized

BCBS NC update Medicare Advantage Plans reimbursement (pricing policy), 04/01/2021

Currently, BCBS of North Carolina uses 2 vendor-based solutions for Medicare Advantage claims pricing:  

  1. The Optum Pricing Module is used for facility claims and certain other module pricing (ex. Home Health, ESRD, etc.) This pricing module is integrated with Blue Cross NC claims processing system.  
  2. The Burgess pricing solution is used for professional claims. This pricing model is not integrated with Blue Cross NC claims processing system. 

In order to reduce administrative complexity of managing a separate vendor and contract, as well as align with more frequent CMS pricing updates and industry standards, BCBSNC will retire Burgess Pricing module and utilize Optum Pricing Module for both facility and professional claims.

Out-of-network providers will be affected by this change in Q1 2021. Participating providers will be subject to this new pricing policy in Q2 2021.

If you have any questions, please contact BCBSNC via phone: 1-800-777-1643Option #6

Or email:  NM.Contracting@bcbsnc.com.

#BCBSNC #MedicareAdvantage #Optum #outofnetwork #pricing #reimbursement

Posted in Uncategorized, Updates

Empire BCBS (Anthem Company) NY- Medicare Advantage News (CCM & TCM) member cost-share

This update applies to Medicare Advantage (except Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans [D-SNPs]) plans.

Member cost-sharing waiver (copay, coins, deductible) will not apply for Medicare Advantage members, for services performed on Sept 1,2019 and thereafter.

Which services are included?

1. Transitional Care Management (TCM)

2. Chronic Care Management (CCM)

Providers and members still have to meet the Medicare Criteria in order to perform these services. Member has to consent in advance and that consent has to be documented in the patient’s medical record.

Which Codes are included?

You are able to check out announcement on Empire BCBS click on the link here.