Medicare AdvantageAdministrativeMedium impact
[California] FAQ on transitioning to paperless remittances with Availity
Anthem BCBS·CA·Provider Bulletin
Effective date
May 29, 2026
We identified it
May 30, 2026
Summary
Anthem Blue Cross is transitioning to paperless remittances through the Availity Essentials platform for California providers. Billing teams must enroll in electronic remittance advice (ERA), use the Availity Remit Viewer to access digital EOPs and 835 ERAs, and can request paper copies only through specific contact channels if needed. Electronic funds transfer (EFT) enrollment is also encouraged for faster payment processing.
Action Required
REQUIREMENTS:
- By June 29, 2026 (before widespread transition): Billing team must enroll in electronic remittance advice (ERA) at https://Availity.com under My Providers > Enrollment Center > Transaction Enrollment. If using a clearinghouse or vendor, coordinate ERA registration with them.
- Billing team must create Availity Essentials accounts (or work with organizational administrator) to access the Remittance Inquiry application and Remit Viewer for digital 835 ERAs and EOPs.
- Billing team should enroll in Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) at enrollsafe.payeehub.org to receive payments faster. Decide whether to enroll at TIN/EIN level (single bank account for all NPIs) or NPI level (separate accounts per billing NPI) based on practice structure.
- Update billing workflows and staff training to use Availity platform for payment inquiries instead of paper correspondence.
- If paper EOPs are required: Medicaid staff contact Medi-Cal Customer Care at 800-407-4627 (TTY 711) or 888-285-7801 (TTY 711) in L.A. County; Commercial/Medicare staff use provider services number on member ID card.
- Consequences of inaction: Delayed access to payment information, continued paper processing delays, and inability to leverage faster EFT payment methods.