BlueLink Newsletter

CareFirst's bimonthly administrative provider newsletter for participating practitioners and their office staff.

2026


Newsletter
Month
Highlights
Cover of BlueLink October issue October
  • Action Required: Ensure Your Billing NPI Is Enrolled with CareFirst
  • Upcoming Change: Post-Acute Authorizations Moving Back to CPT/HCPCS Code-Based Review
  • Platform Migration Update
  • Individual Medicare Advantage PPO Product Changes for 2027
  • Update to Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Program Requirements
  • New Electronic Medication Prior Authorization Submission Process Update
  • Reminder: Medical Drug Prior Authorization Guidance for Members with Commercial and Medicaid Coverage
  • Upcoming Medicaid Changes - What Providers Should Know
  • Prior Authorization Requirement Update for PT, OT and SLP Services for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage Members
  • Important Utilization Management Process Update
  • ...and more!
Cover of BlueLink August issue August
  • Continued Efforts Underway to Strengthen Claims Processing Systems (Commercial, Medicare Advantage, CareFirst CHPMD, DualPrime)
  • Reminder: National Drug Code Required When Submitting Claims for Drugs Covered Under the Medical Benefit (Commercial, Medicare Advantage, CareFirst CHPMD, DualPrime)
  • New Electronic Medication Prior Authorization Submission Process Effective September 1, 2026 (CareFirst CHPMD)
  • Prior Authorization Requirement Update for PT, OT and SLP Services for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage Members (Medicare Advantage)
  • Coming Soon: Interactive Voice Response System Upgrade (Commercial, Medicare Advantage, CareFirst CHPMD, DualPrime)
  • ...and more!
Cover of BlueLink June issue June
  • CareFirst Platform Migration Update
  • Available Now: provider directory updates and attestation tool
  • New Methods for Contacting Professional Credentialing and Enrollment
  • Reminder: Member Eligibility not Determined by PCP Name on ID Card
  • Important Utilization Management Process Update
  • CareFirst Administrators: Administrative Platform Transition Reminders
  • Enroll Today: Electronic Payment Through Zelis
  • Are you In- or Out-of-Network? New Way to Verify your Network Participation
  • Important Guidance for Providers Using Third-Party Billing Companies
  • New Maternal Health Resources Available for Your Patients
  • ...and more!
Cover of BlueLink April issue April
  • 1099 Tax Forms Available in the CareFirst Provider Portal’s Document Center
  • Enter Medical Prior Authorizations Electronically for CareFirst Members
  • New CareFirst Provider Portal Home Page Now Live
  • Important Utilization Management Process Update
  • CareFirst Administrators: Member Transition Reminders
  • Healthy DC Plan Update
  • Provider Reminder: Correct Use of MXJ Prefix for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage Individual PPO Claims
  • Are You In- or Out-of-Network? How to Verify your Network Participation
  • Medicare Advantage PPO: Plan Out-of-Network Provider Guidance
  • Check Prior Authorization Status Electronically
  • ...and more!
Cover of BlueLink February issue February
  • What’s New for 2026!
  • Enter Medical Prior Authorizations Electronically for CareFirst Members
  • 1099 Tax Forms Now Available in the CareFirst Provider Portal’s Document Center
  • Now Available: New Population Health Courses for Continuing Education Units
  • Enhancements coming soon for provider directory updates and attestations tool
  • Reminder: Medical Records Requests in Progress
  • Reminder: How to Submit a Claim Inquiry
  • Attach Clinical Documentation on all Initial Prior Authorization Requests
  • Changes to Current Payment Policies
  • Medical Policy Updates
  • ...and more!