As part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) consolidation of Medicare data center operations, Highmark Medicare Services will transition our Pennsylvania Part A data center operations to a new Enterprise Data Center (EDC) from Saturday, September 22, 2007 through Monday, September 24, 2007.

In order to minimize disruptions during the transition period, Highmark Medicare Services will continue to provide updated communications regarding possible impacts to Medicare Part A providers in the Pennsylvania jurisdiction on our website at www.highmarkmedicareservices.com as well as via our listserv.  This notice is to alert you to the following EDC transition impacts so that you can properly prepare for it.

• Dark Days” Service Interruptions/Outages to: 
  
  
  • EDI Processing
  • FISS/DDE and HUQA Transactions
  • ContactCenterClosure and IVR 
    
    
• FISS/HIQA Security Access Changes
  
  
• New FISS Access Help Desk

"Dark Days” from 09/22/07 through 09/24/07

In order to complete this transition, Highmark Medicare Services will need to observe system “dark days”.  During “dark days,” 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 as well as limited EDI processing. 

The EDC transition “dark days” for our Part A Pennsylvania providers will be September 22, 2007 through September 24, 2007.  In the event that a cycle delay or FISS availability delay occurs due to the EDC transition, a listserv email and website notification will be sent with a status update and the estimated time of system and/or EDI report availability.

EDI Processing Availability 09/22/07 through 9/24/07

On September 24, the EDI platform will be available to submit X12N 837 EDI Claim and X12N 276 Claim Status Inquiry transactions and retrieve reports.  Medicare payment/checks, EDI reports, and Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA) will be generated on September 24, 2007.

EDI claims received after 4 p.m. on Friday, September 21, 2007 through 4 p.m. on Monday, September 24, 2007 will be entered into the FISS processing system as usual, Monday night, September 24, 2007.  These claims will generate EDI reports for retrieval on Tuesday, September 25, 2007.  . 

FISS/HIQA Availability from 09/22/07 through 09/24/07

The FISS will NOT be available on Saturday, September 22nd, through and including Monday, September 24th.  Therefore, all Direct Data Entry (DDE) functions, such as claim entry, claim correction, beneficiary eligibility (HIQA/HUQA), and claim status, will be unavailable.  Access to FISS/HIQA will resume on Tuesday, September 25, 2007. 

Customer Contact Centerand IVR Availability from 09/21/07 through 09/24/07

Due to the EDC transition, the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system will NOT be available starting at 5:00 pm on Friday, September 21, 2007 through Monday, September 24, 2007.    

Due to the dark day, the Customer Contact Center will be closed on Monday, September 24^th.

We will resume normal Customer Contact Center and IVR business hours on Tuesday, September 25, 2007.

FISS/HIQA Security Access Changes effective 09/25/07

Effective September 25, 2007, Pennsylvania Part A providers must begin using the newly assigned FISS/HIQA RACF IDs.   Transition to the EDC requires that additional information be on file for all FISS/HIQA RACF IDs.   In order for Highmark Medicare Services to properly support your logon ID, each logon must have an assigned email address that accurately reflects the individual user assigned to the logon ID, as well as a user-selected Personal Identification Number (PIN) that is to be used in the event that a password reset is required. 

Please visit our website at www.highmarkmedicareservices.com for instructions on acquiring your FISS/HIQA RACF ID.

New FISS/HIQA Access Help Desk effective 09/25/07

Effective Tuesday, September 25, 2007, Highmark Medicare Services will implement a new toll-free customer service line to provide assistance with FISS/HIQA access issues.  The new FISS/HIQA Access Help Desk number will be 1-877-410-1465.   It will be operational Monday through Friday from 8:30 am through 4:30 pm, EST.  Representatives at the help desk will be able to provide assistance with the following inquiry types: 

• FISS/HIQA RACF ID password resets
• Forgotten FISS/HIQA RACF IDs or password PINs
• How to obtain a new FISS/HIQA RACF ID
• Status of FISS/HIQA RACF ID requests

In addition to FISS/HIQA Access Help Desk support, you will also be able to e-mail your questions regarding your FISS/HIQA RACF ID to medicareFFS@highmark.com and continue to access our website at www.highmarkmedicareservices.com for information on FISS/HIQA ID and access issues.