The Connection OnlineSM
February 2010
Welcome to The Connection Online
This publication contains important information, including updates to policies and procedures, for physicians, dentists, other health care and dental professionals, facilities and their staff.
Editions are published in February, April, June, August, October and December. As a reminder, our newsletter will be published online only. You will no longer receive paper issues of The ConnectionSM or Dental News.
If you haven't already, please subscribe to receive email notifications when new editions are available.
Note: Other important updates can be found in our What's New section.
New Provider Center administrative tools
Site administrators now have new administrative tools when they login to the Provider Center. The new features allow Site Administrators to:
- Approve or deny new user access requests
- Add and remove users
- Reset user passwords
- Manage billing service relationships
Important changes to mental health and chemical dependency benefits
The Federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, effective on October 3, 2009, prohibits health plans from placing more restrictive financial requirements or treatment limitations on mental health and chemical dependency benefits than on medical benefits.
Paperless efforts continue this year
As part of our continuing efforts to help provider offices' maximize their use of online tools and increase efficiencies, we will introduce the following electronic services this year:
Our members use Enhanced Provider Profile information
Regence members use Enhanced Provider Profile information to find physicians, dentists, other health care and dental professionals, and facilities.
Administrative and Billing
- Administrative Manual updates
- Advance directive documentation
- Complications from non-covered procedures
- Correct Code Editor updated
- Description required for implant devices
- HEDIS® medical record review for Medicaid members
- Pre-authorization requirements revised for some FEP members
- Receive your provider agreement and amendment notifications via email
- Update your information in our Provider Directory
Products and Programs
Policies
Changes to our medical and reimbursement policies are listed below. Learn how policies are reviewed. Our Coding Toolkit includes codes that require clinical information (updated monthly) and a complete list of code groupings.
Medical
- Investigational and medical necessity reviews
- New Multi-chamber Programmable Pneumatic Compression Pumps policy
- Varicose Vein Treatment policy reminder
Reimbursement
Medication
Summaries of recent changes (PDF) and detailed policies are available in our Medication Policy Manual.
View our group and Individual products Preferred Medication List/Formulary.
Search the Regence MedAdvantage + Rx and Medicare Part D formulary.