The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved the completion of the transition for Highmark Medicare Services to the Enterprise Data Center (EDC) for the MD/DC providers effective September 4, 2007.

This notice is to remind you of the following impacts as a result of the EDC transition and the Labor Day Holiday so that you may properly prepare.  Additional details regarding these impacts can be found in the “EDC Transition Impacts” notification published on our website on 08/21/2007.

“Dark Days” from 09/01/07 through 09/03/07

• There will be NO access to the Fiscal Intermediary Standard System (FISS) to conduct claim entry or claim correction, and verify beneficiary eligibility and claim status.

EDI Processing Availability on 09/03/07

• The EDI Services Help Desk will not be available. 
  
  
• EDI platform will be available to submit X12N 837 EDI Claim and X12N 276 Claim Status Inquiry transactions and retrieve reports. 
  
  
• No EDI reports (except TA1) will be generated on September 3^rd.  (Please note, Medicare ERA’s will be available for retrieval as normal once the weekend processing is completed.  Medicare payments/checks will be issued as normal on Tuesday, September 4^th.  These payments are not impacted by the dark day or the holiday.)
  
  
• EDI claims received after 4 p.m. on Friday, August 31, 2007 through 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 will NOT be entered into the FISS processing system until late Tuesday, September 4, 2007.  These claims will generate EDI reports for retrieval on Wednesday, September 5, 2007. 

Customer Contact Centerand IVR Availability from 09/01/07 through 09/03/07

• The Interactive Voice Response (IVR) will NOT be available September 1, 2007 through September 3, 2007. 
  
  
• The Customer Contact Center will NOT be open on September 3, 2007.

FISS/HIQA Security Access Changes effective 09/04/07

• Effective September 4, 2007, MD/DC providers must begin using the newly assigned FISS/HIQA RACF IDs.

New FISS/HIQA Access Help Desk effective 09/04/07

• A new toll-free customer service line will be available to provide assistance with FISS/HIQA access issues at 1-877-410-1465.