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    Understand how benefits are applied to claims

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    Provider Service: 800-368-2312

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    Access resources related to patient claims

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    Why did the claim deny?

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  1. Provider
  2. Eligibility & Claims
  3. Payment Integrity Program
  4. Process Flows
  • Clinical Chart Validation - CCV
  • Retrospective Claims Accuracy - RCA
  • Evaluation and Management - E-M
  • Prospective Pre-Pay details

Clinical Chart Validation (CCV) Process Flow

This is an analysis-driven audit requiring review of medical records and includes complex DRG (diagnosis, revenue codes and procedure codes) review (beyond just coding and documentation).

Expand the panels below to learn about each step in the CCV process flow.

Medical Records Request


1. Cotiviti reviews finalized claims and identifies claims to audit.


2. Provider receives a medical records request letter from Cotiviti on behalf of BCBSND. All medical record requests will come via letter from Cotiviti.


    Medical Records Request Sample.pdf *


3. Submit medical records within 60 days using one of the methods provided in the letter. If medical records are not received within 60 days, the claim will be denied and the provider forfeits any further right to reimbursement. 


Note: Cotiviti and BCBSND will not reimburse the cost for requests of medical records or expedited mailing services.


For questions about the medical record retrieval process, please contact Cotiviti Retrieval Operations Center at 833-931-1789.


*Sample letter verbiage is subject to change. These images are just samples of the letters you or your administration may see.

Audit Determination

Once Cotiviti has completed their review of medical records, they will send an Audit Determination letter within 60 days with one of the following outcomes:


No Change:

Cotiviti agrees with the claim submission. No further action is required.


Cotiviti Audit Determination: No Change.pdf *


Change:

Cotiviti disagrees with claim submission and provides the audited results.


Cotiviti Audit Determination: Change.pdf *


Agree with audit finding

Sign and return the audit determination to the address on the letter within 60 days of the letter date. BCBSND will adjust the claim to reflect the audit determination within 60 days of notification from Cotiviti.


Disagree with audit finding

Submit a reconsideration request, along with supporting documentation, to Cotiviti to the address provided on the audit determination letter within 60 days.


Note: Failure to respond to the audit determination letter within 60 days will result in the claim being adjusted to reflect the audit finding.


For questions on your audit determination, please call Cotiviti at 770-379-2169.


*Sample letter verbiage is subject to change. These images are just samples of the letters you or your administration may see.

Reconsideration Process

The provider has 60 days from the date of the audit determination letter to request a reconsideration.


A request for reconsideration received by Cotiviti after the 60-day time limit has ended will result in the claim being adjusted to reflect the audit finding. Any further opportunity for reconsideration or payment of the claim is waived by the provider for failure to respond timely.


Cotiviti will review the reconsideration request along with the supporting documentation and send a reconsideration determination within 60 days from the receipt date of the request.


Reconsideration Overturned

Cotiviti agrees with the claim submission. No further action is required.


Cotiviti Reconsideration Overturned.pdf *


Reconsideration Upheld or a New Determination


Cotiviti Reconsideration Upheld.pdf*
Cotiviti Reconsideration New Determination.pdf *


Agree with determination:

Sign and return the audit determination to the address on the letter to Cotiviti within 60 days of the letter date. BCBSND will adjust the claim to reflect the audit determination within 60 days of notification from Cotiviti.


Disagree with determination:

Submit a second-level reconsideration request to BCBSND along with supporting documentation and a copy of the letter within 60 days to the reconsideration address provided on the letter.


A reconsideration determination is provided within 60 days

Overturned: No further action is required.


Upheld: No further action is required. BCBSND will adjust the claim to reflect the final audit determination.


Note: If a reconsideration is not requested within 60 days, the claim will be adjusted to reflect the audit determination. Any further opportunity for reconsideration or payment of the claim is waived by the provider for failure to respond timely.


For questions on your reconsideration notice, please call Cotiviti at 770-379-2169.


*Sample letter verbiage is subject to change. These images are just samples of the letters you or your administration may see.

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Timeline per step: 60 Days

Providers must respond within 60 days of the date of the letter received in each step.

Retrospective Claims Accuracy (RCA) Process Flow

These are reviewing provider billing issues, such as split bills, excessive units, global services, multiple procedures and modifier use.

Expand the panels below to learn about each step in the RCA process flow.

Overpayment Notice

  1. Cotiviti reviews finalized claims for potential findings.

  2. Once a claim has been identified as overpaid, Cotiviti sends a written notice of overpayment. The letter contains an explanation of Cotiviti’s findings along with a remittance coupon to complete and return to Cotiviti.

  3. Complete and return the remittance coupon to Cotiviti within 45 days.

    Cotiviti Overpayment Notice Par Sample.pdf*


Agree with Overpayment Findings


1. Circle "Yes" on the remittance coupon and return to the address on the Overpayment Notification letter.


2. The claim will be adjusted within 60 days and you will receive a notification on your electronic remittance advice.


Disagree With Overpayment Findings


1. Circle "No" on the Remittance Coupon and return to the address on the Overpayment Notification letter. Include rationale and supporting documentation.


Note: If a reconsideration is not requested within 45 days, reconsideration rights are forfeited. The claim will be adjusted to reflect the audit determination and you will receive notification on your electronic remittance advice.


For questions on your overpayment notice, please call Cotiviti at 203-529-4199.


Claim Correction


If it's determined a claim correction is needed:


1. Do not respond to the Overpayment Notification letter.


2. Submit a claim correction immediately.


*Sample letter verbiage is subject to change. These images are just samples of the letters you or your administration may see.

Reconsideration Process

Cotiviti will review the reconsideration request along with the supporting documentation and send a reconsideration determination within 45 days from the receipt date of the request. The letter contains an explanation of Cotiviti’s findings along with a remittance coupon to complete and return to Cotiviti.

Reconsideration Sample Letter.pdf*



Reconsideration Overturned

  • Cotiviti agrees with the claim submission. No further action is required.



Reconsideration Upheld


Agree with upheld determination


1. Circle "Yes" on the remittance coupon and return the Remittance Coupon to the address provided on the Reconsideration determination.


2. The claim will be adjusted within 60 days and you will receive notification on your electronic remittance advice.



Disagree with upheld determination


1. Circle "No" on the remittance coupon and return to the address on the Reconsideration determination.


2. Submit a second-level reconsideration along with rationale and supporting documentation within 45 days.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota
PO Box 1570
Fargo, ND 58107-1570
Fax: 701-277-2209


Note: If a reconsideration is not requested within 45 days, reconsideration rights are forfeited. The claim will be adjusted to reflect the audit determination and you will receive notification on your electronic remittance advice.


For questions on your reconsideration notice, please call Cotiviti at 203-529-4199.

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Timeline per step: 45 Days

Providers must respond within 45 days of the date of the letter received in each step.

Retrospective Evaluation & Management (E/M)

Evaluation & Management (E/M) CPT codes with a level 4 and 5 are reviewed for outliers. Claims selected for review are for claims finalized the prior month. There are two different types of E/M review; Emergency Department (ED) E/M and all other E/M services. A provider can be under review for both types of E/M review.

1. Medical record requests will go out to providers once a month with a letter and spreadsheet of identified claims.

a. Failure to respond will result in a claim denial and the provider forfeits any right to future payment or reconsideration.

2.  Providers will have 60 days to submit records via options on the letter, which includes upload to the medical records portal.

• A reminder letter will be sent at 45 days if records have not been sent.

3.  Cotiviti reviews the submitted records and send the provider a notification letter with a spreadsheet of the findings for each claim within 30 calendar days.

4.  Providers have an opportunity to request a reconsideration within 60 days by noting on the spreadsheet their agreement or disagreement with the determination.

a. If necessary, also include additional documentation.

b. Provider can request a reconsideration on any denial for no medical records during this time; records must be submitted with the reconsideration.

5.  Cotiviti reviews the reconsideration requests and provides a reconsideration notification within 45 calendar days from receipt of the request.

6.  Providers can request a second level reconsideration within 60 days following the instructions provided in the reconsideration notification letter.

7.  Cotiviti reviews the second request and the provider will receive a reconsideration notification within 45 calendar days from receipt of reconsideration.

a. This outcome is final.

b. If the reconsideration is upheld, BCBSND adjusts the claim to reflect the review determination.

8.  If a provider fails to respond at any point after the review determination has been made, the claim will be adjusted to reflect the payment integrity review determination and the provider forfeits any right to reconsideration.

9.  If the provider agrees with Cotiviti’s payment integrity review determination, BCBSND adjusts the claim to reflect the reviewed level.

Note: An independent reviewer completes each level of review that was not part of the previous review.

Questions?
If Providers have questions on the E/M Retrospective reviews, reach out using the phone number or email address provided on the respective review letter.

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Timeline per step: 60 Days

Providers must respond within 60 days of the date of the letter received in each step.

Prospective (pre-pay)

Claims go through two different Prospective reviews:

  • Payment Policy Management (PPM): Uses advanced data analytics to identify claims at an elevated risk for incorrect coding and claim reimbursement.
  • Coding Validation (CV): A process within PPM where complex claims can be briefly paused and sent for clinical review. These claims are reviewed by qualified clinical professionals that determine if these complex claims have been coded appropriately.

What’s Being Reviewed

Claims are reviewed on the following concepts:

  • Duplicate, including professional and technical components
  • National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI)
  • Modifier usage, including appropriate use of global and NCCI modifiers
  • Daily and annual unit limits
  • Global services

Why Claims Process Differently

Some concepts are not applied to certain places of service. This was a decision to reduce claim denials and provider abrasion. Providers should still follow correct coding for all claims.

Notifications

Providers receive results of reviews on their Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA). Search the Payment Integrity Denial Resolution information to aid in determining why the claim denied and next steps.

Search Denial Resolution Information

Reconsiderations

If a provider disagrees with a payment determination and a claim correction is not the next step, request a Reconsideration using the Appeal form. Reconsideration timelines for request align with the respective appeal timelines for commercial and Medicaid Expansion.

A reconsideration is not an appeal as it’s a payment dispute and not an adverse benefit determination; it does not use the member’s appeal rights. A reconsideration of a payment determination is a provider right only. When completing the appeal form, select Provider on behalf of self. 

Providers will receive a reconsideration notification within 45 days of receipt of the request. If a provider disagrees with the determination, they will have the option of requesting a second reconsideration within 45 days. Providers will receive a reconsideration notification of their subsequent request within 45 days of receipt of the request.

Questions

Please contact BCBSND Provider Service at 800-368-2312 or BCBSND Medicaid Expansion at 833-777-5779 for questions on how claims processed on prospective concepts. Cotiviti should not be contacted for any prospective questions.

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Why did the claim deny?

Use the below link to aid in determining why the claim denied and next steps.

Search Pre-Pay Denial Resolution Info
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