News Flash

Updates on NASCO Migration

On January 1, 2009 CareFirst moved 35 large groups from our older claims processing systems to the NASCO platform. During the next two years, we will move all of our non-FEP business to one of two systems: NASCO or FACETS. Following the migration, groups will have new, custom prefix numbers - XI and XW prefixes will be phased out. You will also find that products such as BlueChoice and BluePreferred, which you traditionally associate with other CareFirst claims processing systems, will be processed on NASCO or FACETS. All rules normally associated with these products still apply.

If you are unfamiliar with our BluePreferred or BlueChoice products, a variety of training opportunities are available. You can attend a "Basics and Updates" seminar, participate in a web-based seminar (webinar) or contact your professional or institutional provider relations representative.

To make the migration easier:

• always verify members' benefits
• ask to look at their identification (ID) card to ensure that your information is current

Since patients may have changed products at renewal or migrated to another platform, their prefix and membership number may have changed. If you submit a claim using outdated information, the claim will be rejected. In addition, if you use tools such as CareFirst Direct, BlueLine or FirstLine to research members using their old ID number, you will not find current information. Therefore, getting the correct information in advance can save time for you and your patients.

To help you learn more about this migration, we are including information in our "Basics and Updates" seminars. We are also sponsoring several webinars. During the webinars, which will last approximately 45 minutes, you will learn which groups are being processed on NASCO, get helpful hints about the migration and hear answers to common questions. Sessions will be targeted toward institutional and professional providers.

We strongly encourage you to participate in these sessions.

In the event that they become full, additional sessions will be scheduled as needed. Additional sessions are available to providers in other counties.

Professional providers may register here.

Institutional providers may register here.

Note: If you use a billing agency, please notify them of these changes and urge them to attend our on-line training sessions.

Following is a list of all accounts who have migrated:

Alphabetically by name (164KB, 3pgs. )

Alphabetically by prefix (123KB, 2pgs )

Anne Arundel County Updates:

Webinar dates for professional providers:

• Monday, 1/26/09 - 10:00 a.m.
• Tuesday, 1/27/09 - 12:00 p.m.
• Thursday, 1/29/09 - 10:00 a.m.
• Thursday, 1/29/09 - 3:30 p.m.

Webinar date for institutional providers:

• Friday, 1/30/09 -10:00 a.m.

Seminars located at Anne Arundel Medical Center specific to Anne Arundel County Government and Public Schools;

• Session 1 - February 6, 2009 - Room 250 C - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Session 2 - February 6, 2009 - Room 250 C - 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Following is a list of prefixes for Anne Arundel County Government groups and their corresponding prefixes;