Highmark Medicare Services to Begin Processing Claims in New Jersey

Posted on : 2008-05-22 | Author : Highmark Medicare Services
News Category : PressRelease


CAMP HILL, Pa., May 22 NJ-Highmark-NJ-claims

CAMP HILL, Pa., May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Highmark Medicare Services will begin processing Medicare Part A claims in New Jersey on September 1, 2008 and Part B claims on November 14, 2008. In October 2007, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services awarded Highmark Medicare Services the Jurisdiction 12 (J12) Medicare contract to provide the Medicare Fee-for-Service Part A and Part B administrative services for the states of Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and the District of Columbia. The award is part of a Congressional requirement to replace all current Medicare Part A and B contracts with new contract entities called Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs).

In fiscal year 2007, Highmark Medicare Services processed about 48.8 million claims and served approximately 2.3 million beneficiaries and 57,000 providers. As the MAC for J12, Highmark Medicare Services is expected to process approximately 131 million claims annually, accounting for more than 11 percent of the national Medicare fee-for-service workload. Highmark Medicare Services will be working on behalf of approximately 4.2 million beneficiaries and 137,000 physicians and practitioners.

As a MAC, Highmark Medicare Services will serve as a single point-of-contact entity processing Medicare Part A and B claims from hospitals and other institutional providers, physicians and other practitioners within the J12 region. Highmark Medicare Services currently administers the Medicare Fee-for-Service Part A business for Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, and the Part B business for Pennsylvania.

"As this work transitions from other contractors to Highmark Medicare Services, we are committed to making this as seamless as possible for Medicare beneficiaries and health care providers," said Patrick Kiley, president of Highmark Medicare Services. "We understand that one of the keys to accomplishing this is through timely and direct communications by the MAC and timely response by those who need to react to changes due to the transition."

If you have any questions related to the transition or Highmark Medicare Services, visit http://www.highmarkmedicareservices.com.

About Highmark Inc.

Highmark Medicare Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Highmark Inc.

Highmark Inc. is a major force for Pennsylvania's economy. According to a Tripp Umbach study, Highmark has a $2.5 billion impact on the economy and that includes about 11,000 employees of Highmark in Pennsylvania. Overall, Highmark and its subsidiaries have 19,000 employees.

As one of the leading health insurers in Pennsylvania, Highmark Inc.'s mission is to provide access to affordable, quality health care enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Based in Pittsburgh, Highmark serves 4.6 million people through the company's health care benefits business. Highmark contributes millions of dollars to help keep quality health care programs affordable and to support community-based programs that work to improve people's health. Highmark exerts an enormous economic impact throughout Pennsylvania. The company provides the resources to give its members a greater hand in their health.

Highmark Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans.

SOURCE: Highmark Medicare Services

© 2008 earthtimes.org.

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