As previously communicated, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
(BCBSA), an association of independent Blue Cross? and Blue
Shield? Plans, is changing the format of the prefixes it assigns to
all Blue Plans, including Independence's plans. The BCBSA has introduced
alpha-numeric prefixes, which is a change from the previous alpha-only prefixes
you have seen on Blue-branded member ID cards.
Providers may have already begun to see the new alpha-numeric prefixes on
Independence and other Blue Plan (through the BlueCard? Program) ID
cards. The first set of prefixes released are in the alpha-numeric-alpha (ANA)
format.
We urge our network providers and third-party vendors to evaluate their
systems to assess if changes are needed to accommodate alpha numeric prefixes
and ensure all systems and documentation are compliant with BCBSA standards.
As additional information regarding this change becomes available, we will
communicate it in future Partners in Health UpdateSM
articles.
Note: Existing Blue Plan prefixes will not be affected by this
change.