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Medicare A+B
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- <- Back To Medicare B Index
- J12 MAC Transition
- Look up A Policy (LCD)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Online Training
- Register for Training
- Part B Reference Manual
- Provider Bulletins
- Forms Catalog
Electronic Mailing Lists
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is consolidating Medicare data center operations at more than 20 facilities into four state-of-the-art Enterprise Data Centers (EDCs). The new data centers will help Medicare accommodate a growing claims volume, standardize operations, expand electronic services, bolster security, and lower costs by hundreds of millions of dollars over the next 10 years.
CMS plans to transfer operations for all fee-for-service Medicare claims to the EDCs in staggered workloads by September 2008. The data centers used by Highmark Medicare Services (Arkansas Data Center for MD/DC Part A business, Highmark Data Center for PA Part A and Part B business) will be transitioned later this summer to the Companion Data Services (CDS) Data Center.
This page will contain all the information that you will need to complete this transition as smoothly as possible.
Part B EDC Transition
PA Part B Delay of the EDC Transition - UPDATE
CMS has announced that the Highmark Medicare Services Pennsylvania Part B transition to the Enterprise Data Center previously scheduled for October 20, 2007, will now take place on December 8, 2007. Additional information concerning provider impacts including a planned "dark day" are noted in the November 19th EDC bulletin.
Bulletins Regarding our EDC Transition
| Date Issued | Subject |
| 12.03.2007 | IVR Update - Hours of Operation and Fax Option Due to the EDC transition, the IVR Hours of Operation have changed. The IVR will be available Monday through Fridays from 6:00 am until 7:00 pm and on Saturdays from 6:00 am until 4:00 pm. The fax option will also be temporarily disabled. We apologize for the inconvenience and will update the message within the IVR as more information becomes available. Notification via the website and a listserv message will occur when it is available again. |
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11.19.2007 |
EDC Transition: Impact to Pennsylvania Part B Medicare Providers |
Part A EDC Transition
Bulletins Regarding our EDC Transition
| Date Issued | Subject |
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11.19.2007 |
EDC Transition: Impact to Pennsylvania Part B Medicare Providers |
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09.14.2007 |
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09.10.2007 |
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09.10.2007 |
EDC Transition: Impact to Pennsylvania Part A Medicare Providers |
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08.31.2007 |
The Completion of the EDC Transition for the MD/DC Part A Medicare Providers Has Been Approved |
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08.21.2007 |
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07.30.2007 |
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07.09.2007 |
Required Forms
- RACF ID Request Form
- FISS Logon Instructions Via Companion Data Services
- Password Reset Instructions
- RACF ID and Password Rules
FAQs for PA Providers
| Date Posted | Date Updated | FAQ |
| 09.10.2007 | Will the EDC Transition delay Medicare payments for PA Part A providers? No, Medicare payments/checks will be issued daily as normal begining on Tuesday, September 25th. These payments are not impacted by the EDC Transition dark day. |
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08.06.2007 |
09.10.2007 | What will happen if I don't complete and submit the form by the deadline? Will I still be able to access FISS? Failure to complete the RACF ID Request Form by the September 7, 2007 deadline for PA Providers will result in a delay in assignment and distribution of your new logon ID, which in turn, has potential impact to your ability to conduct day-to-day business functions (i.e., DDE, Eligibility inquiries, claim inquiry, and claim correction) and ultimately your cash flow. For providers who did not complete the online RACF ID Request Form, Highmark Medicare Services will assign your new RACF ID and PIN, and issue a hardcopy notice through regular mail to the provider's address of record on September 15, 2007. Providers should expect to receive these letters by September 19, 2007. Please ensure hardcopy notices are distributed to FISS ID holders in a timely manner. |
| 09.05.2007 | 09.10.2007 |
When can I begin using my new ID? PA Providers must begin using their new HIQA/FISS RACF ID on September 25, 2007. Existing HIQA/FISS logons will no longer be valid for use after September 21, 2007 for PA providers. |
| 09.05.2007 | 09.10.2007 |
When will I receive my new HIQA/FISS RACF ID? PA Providers who complete the RACF ID Request Form to provide Highmark Medicare Services with a User PIN by September 7, 2007 will receive a new HIQA/FISS RACF ID between September 10, 2007 and September 15, 2007. |
| 08.06.2007 |
Why do I need a new HIQA / FISS RACF ID logon ID? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is consolidating Medicare data center operations at more than 20 facilities into four state-of-the-art Enterprise Data Centers (EDCs). The new data centers will help Medicare accommodate a growing claims volume, standardize operations, expand electronic services, bolster security, and lower costs over the next 10 years. New HIQA / FISS RACF IDs are needed to access the data (need to specify types of data that providers would access – e.g., eligibility) at the new data centers. |
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| 08.06.2007 |
How will I be notified of the new ID? Highmark Medicare Services will e-mail the new HIQA/FISS RACF ID to the e-mail address indicated on the RACF ID Request Form . The new HIQA/FISS RACF ID will be sent under separate e-mail cover. |
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| 08.06.2007 |
Do I need to put all the provider numbers that my staff bills for in the provider number field on the EDC Transition Customer Information Form? No, you need to only indicate your primary provider number. Based on your existing logon, a crosswalk has been developed that will include all provider numbers currently associated with the current logon. |
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| 08.06.2007 |
If I have multiple IDs now, will I need to complete a separate form for each ID? If yes, can they use the same PIN for each ID? Yes, you will need to complete a separate RACF ID Request Form for each HIQA/FISS logon that you need to replace. You should use a unique PIN for each FISS/HIQA logon you request. If you currently only have one logon for HIQA/FISS, then you will only need to replace that one logon. |
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| 08.06.2007 |
What do I do if I don't have an email address? We highly recommend the availability of a valid e-mail address to provide you with your logon information. Providers without a valid e-mail address will receive their information via US Postal Service mailed to the address we have on file, which may result in a delay of receiving your new HIQA/FISS RACF logon. |
FAQs for MD/DC Providers
| Date Posted | Date Updated | FAQ |
| 08.31.2007 | Will the EDC Transition delay the weekly Medicare payments for MD/DC providers? No, Medicare payments/checks will be issued as normal on Tuesday, September 4th. These payments are not impacted by the EDC Transition dark day or the Labor Day holiday. |
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| 08.06.2007 |
Why do I need a new HIQA / FISS RACF ID logon ID? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is consolidating Medicare data center operations at more than 20 facilities into four state-of-the-art Enterprise Data Centers (EDCs). The new data centers will help Medicare accommodate a growing claims volume, standardize operations, expand electronic services, bolster security, and lower costs over the next 10 years. New HIQA / FISS RACF IDs are needed to access the data (need to specify types of data that providers would access – e.g., eligibility) at the new data centers. |
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| 08.06.2007 | 08.07.2007 |
When will I receive my new HIQA/FISS RACF ID? MD/DC Providers must complete the RACF ID Request Form to provide Highmark Medicare Services with a User PIN by August 15, 2007. If a User PIN is provided to us by that date, MD/DC Providers will receive a new HIQA/FISS RACF ID between August 20, 2007 and August 31, 2007. We will advise PA providers of the timeline for receipt of a new HIQA/FISS RACF ID in future communications. |
| 08.06.2007 |
How will I be notified of the new ID? Highmark Medicare Services will e-mail the new HIQA/FISS RACF ID to the e-mail address indicated on the RACF ID Request Form . The new HIQA/FISS RACF ID will be sent under separate e-mail cover. |
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| 08.06.2007 |
Do I need to put all the provider numbers that my staff bills for in the provider number field on the EDC Transition Customer Information Form? No, you need to only indicate your primary provider number. Based on your existing logon, a crosswalk has been developed that will include all provider numbers currently associated with the current logon. |
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| 08.06.2007 |
When can I begin using my new ID? MD/DC Providers must begin using their new HIQA/FISS RACF ID on September 4, 2007. Existing HIQA/FISS logons will no longer be valid for use after September 1, 2007 for MD/DC providers. |
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| 08.06.2007 |
If I have multiple IDs now, will I need to complete a separate form for each ID? If yes, can they use the same PIN for each ID? Yes, you will need to complete a separate RACF ID Request Form for each HIQA/FISS logon that you need to replace. You should use a unique PIN for each FISS/HIQA logon you request. If you currently only have one logon for HIQA/FISS, then you will only need to replace that one logon. |
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| 08.06.2007 |
What do I do if I don't have an email address? We highly recommend the availability of a valid e-mail address to provide you with your logon information. Providers without a valid e-mail address will receive their information via US Postal Service mailed to the address we have on file, which may result in a delay of receiving your new HIQA/FISS RACF logon. |