For Providers: EDI paperless

EDI, or electronic data interchange, is a way to send or receive information with us electronically. The information can be things like claims, remittance advice, patient eligibility and claims status transactions.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network has contracted with Availity^®, an independent company, to offer provider portal and electronic data interchange services for 837, 835, 270/271, and 276/277 transactions.

The material contained here applies to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and BCN health plans:

Blue Cross commercial, including the Federal Employee Program^®
Medicare Plus Blue^SM, the Blue Cross Medicare Advantage PPO plan
Blue Care Network commercial
BCN Advantage^SM, the BCN Medicare Advantage HMO and POS plans
Blue Cross^® Complete, the Blue Cross Medicaid plan

Getting started

How do I sign up for Electronic Data Interchange?

Availity^® manages the Trading Partner Agreement and Availity Organizational Access Agreement. Contact Availity at 1-800-282-4548 for questions and help in setting up your EDI interface and registration. You can also Register with Availity and select Get Started then choose the option that best describes your need.

Using Availity to send your EDI transactions?

Register with Availity and select Get Started or call Availity Client Services 1-800-282-4548
Set up your reporting preference at Availity.
Set up your 835 electronic remittance advice designation under enrollment.
By choosing the Availity clearinghouse base plan, there is no charge for submitting Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and BCN claims transactions.
After you are registered with Availity, view the EDI Clearinghouse FAQ for additional information.

Using a clearinghouse other than Availity to send your EDI transactions?

To become an approved submitter, you must:

Work directly with your clearinghouse.
You or your clearinghouse will need to set up your 835 electronic remittance advice designation at Availity under enrollment. You must be registered with Availity to receive 835 ERA.

When setting up your EDI transactions, refer to both:

The Availity companion guides.
- Guides are available once you've obtained an Availity account by logging in to Availity Essentials.
- To setup an account or for questions about the guides, contact Availity Client Services 1-800-282-4548.
The BCBSM companion documents available under Blue Cross Blue Shield and Blue Care Network Companion Documents and Related forms and documents.

Do you submit a small number of claims?

Availity offers a Direct Data Entry online claim submission. If you are a Blue Cross registered provider, please work with an Availity Client Services at 1-800-282-4548 for assistance with enrolling and navigating the Availity direct data entry (DDE) claim submission tool.

Pharmacy

To submit pharmacy claims, you should be set up to bill the pharmacy provider. For technical requirements and instructions, please call one of these numbers:

PPO plans: 1-855-811-2223

BCN plans: 1-844-642-9087

Blue Cross Blue Shield and Blue Care Network Companion Documents

Still need help?

Need additional help?

If you need help registering for Availity EDI, updating your 835 ERA designation or with EDI edits/failed transactions, call Availity Client Services at 1-800-AVAILITY (282-4548) or go to Register with Availity and select Get Started. Assistance is available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Were you looking for information on the BCBSM EDI helpdesk? Availity Client Services replaced the EDI Helpdesk in 2024.

For Providers: How Do I Sign Up for Electronic Data Interchange?