A. The conditions of these policies and procedures and the contracting provider agreement apply to all benefit programs, indemnity and to self-insured plans administered by BCBSKS or its subsidiaries, including those with deductibles, coinsurance and shared payments. For indemnity plans the difference between payment and the MAP allowance can be billed to the patient.
The conditions of these policies and procedures and the contracting provider agreement also apply to other entities when services (including services covered by workers compensation) are received within the company service area and BCBSKS, or its subsidiaries, is involved in the pricing and/or processing of the claim and payment is issued either by BCBSKS, its subsidiaries, other Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies/plans or other entities such as insurers or administrators of welfare benefit plans or workers compensation plans. In the event there is need for substantive differences between the terms and conditions of these Policies and Procedures and those applicable to a subsidiary of BCBSKS, a separate contract would govern the subsidiary network.
The conditions of these policies and procedures and the contracting provider agreement DO NOT apply to the programs insured and/or administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies/plans when such programs rely upon providers who contract with an entity other than BCBSKS for the purpose of establishing reimbursement levels in the company service area. And, in the event the provider is required to submit claims direct to a Blue Cross and Blue Shield company/plan outside the company service area that is adjudicating the claim, the provisions of these policies and procedures do not apply.
B. When BCBSKS receives and prices a claim which is paid by another entity, such other entity may make payments at variances with those which would be made by BCBSKS if it were adjudicating and paying the claim. In such a case, the provider must bring any such difference to the attention of BCBSKS within 15 months of payment to have such payment corrected.
C. BCBSKS may review charge/payment records of non-BCBSKS patients to determine contract compliance. The patients’ anonymity can be protected by providing information specific to the contract compliance review.
D. Obligations under the contract with respect to services rendered while contract was in force survive termination of the contract.
E. When BCBSKS is the secondary insurance payor and the contracting provider has entered into an agreement with the insurance carrier who is the primary payor to accept an allowance which is less than the allowable charge under this contract, then the allowance of the primary insurer shall be considered the allowable charge under this contract for the purpose of that claim. When the allowance of the primary payor is greater than the allowable charge under this contract, the provisions of this contract are applicable.
F. In circumstances in which a party other than BCBSKS is entitled to the benefits of the Contracting Provider Agreement and these Policies and Procedures, such party may, at its discretion, honor assignments of benefits to providers not contracting with BCBSKS.
