MedicaidAdministrativeMedium impact
[Ohio] Prevent delays to behavioral health prior authorizations (PAs): standard vs. expedited requests
Anthem BCBS·OH · Psychiatry·Specialty Services
Effective date
May 13, 2026
We identified it
May 14, 2026
Summary
Ohio Medicaid and MyCare Ohio have implemented separate fax numbers for behavioral health prior authorization (PA) requests based on urgency level, effective immediately. Standard non-urgent PAs should be faxed to 866-577-2183, while expedited/urgent requests must be faxed to 866-577-2184. Online submission via Availity Essentials is recommended for faster processing and reduced turnaround time.
Action Required
Immediately: All staff involved in behavioral health PA submissions (UM, CM, intake, administrative teams) must be trained on the new fax routing protocol. Update internal procedures and templates to direct standard PA requests to fax 866-577-2183 and expedited/urgent requests to 866-577-2184. Prioritize staff migration to Availity Essentials for online PA submission to reduce processing delays. Inform behavioral health providers and clinical staff of the dual fax number system. Failure to route PAs to the correct fax number may result in processing delays and potential claim denials.