Provider E-News

Monthly newsletter with information about clinical practice and business updates. Newsletters are in print-friendly PDF format.

February 2021 (PDF)

  • Update: First call guide for ambulance partnerships for Kaiser Permanente
  • Threshold decrease for claims pre-payment and medical necessity review for inpatient and outpatient claims
  • Internet Explorer browser no longer supported
  • Timely filing of claims involving a coordination of benefits
  • HEDIS® medical record review season: February - May 2021
  • Reminder - we can't accept CDs for reconsideration and appeals
  • 1099 form requests
  • Online referral request tools you can use today
  • Retail flu vaccine options extended to March 31, 2021
  • Routine hepatitis C screening now recommended for all adults - not just baby boomers
  • Non-invasive prenatal fetal testing - temporary change extended to March 15, 2021
  • Medical necessity review guidelines for substance use disorder treatment

January 2021 (PDF)

  • Elimination of CPT code 99201
  • Threshold decrease for claims pre-payment and medical necessity review for inpatient and outpatient claims
  • HEDIS® medical record review season: February - May 2021
  • Terminology for our online resources
  • Affiliate Link reminders and updates
  • Retail flu vaccine options extended to March 31, 2021
  • Mandatory telemedicine training for all licensed, registered, or certified health care professionals.
  • Internet Explorer browser no longer supported
  • New guideline provides treatment options for patients with opioid use disorder
  • CDC drops azithromycin from gonorrhea treatment recommendations

November 2020 (PDF)

  • COVID-19 household prevention program resources available
  • Important changes effective 1/1/2021 to our Women's Health payment policy
  • Kaiser Permanente offering $0 copay for primary care visits for Medicare Advantage members through December 2020
  • We need your help to transfer your patients' refills to Kaiser Permanente mail order
  • Acupuncture Medicare benefit for chronic low back pain
  • Generic albuterol HFA (Proventil) is Kaiser Permanente's preferred short-acting beta agonist
  • 30-day supply limit added for opioids, benzodiazepines, and non-benzodiazepine receptor agaonists (Z-drugs) for KP Commercial Plans
  • Upcoming changes

October 2020 (PDF)

  • Kaiser Permanente offers $0 copay for primary care office visits for Medicare Advantage members through December 2020
  • Women's health care performed by non-network providers requires prior authorization
  • Flu campaign toolkit
  • New ways to deliver flu shots to our members
  • Updated guidelines

August 2020 (PDF)

  • More authorizations upgrades going live on August 17
  • Kaiser Permanente walk-in pharmacy opening in Bellingham on August 20, 2020
  • Expedited appeals
  • New ambulance partnerships for Kaiser Permanente
  • Kaiser Permanente will not reopen CareClinic by Kaiser Permanente at Bartell Drugs locations
  • Upcoming changes

July 2020 (PDF)

  • New pre-authorization code check tool added to provider site
  • More provider site upgrades coming in August
  • COVID-19 vaccine well tolerated, generates immune response
  • Non-invasive prenatal fetal testing - temporary change extended to September 15, 2020
  • Kaiser Permanente partners with Magellan Healthcare to support mental health access
  • Upcoming changes

May 2020 (PDF)

  • Understanding hierarchical condition categories & accurate coding
  • New referrals and authorization improvement launch date
  • Upcoming changes
  • CME opportunities

April 2020 (PDF)

  • COVID-19 provider resources page
  • Medicare telehealth services
  • Quality program patient outreach moratorium
  • New referrals and authorization improvement launch date
  • Credentialing applications process update
  • Non-invasive prenatal fetal testing
  • Smokey Point Medical Center is open for business!
  • Flu vaccines