CommercialAdministrativeMedium impact
BAI codes identify real-time transactions for select commercial claim payments
UnitedHealthcare·Network News
Effective date
Mar 1, 2026
We identified it
Jun 3, 2026
Summary
Starting early March 2026, UnitedHealthcare will implement real-time electronic funds transfers (EFTs) for eligible commercial claim payments, identified by new BAI codes 158, 159, 399, and 459 on bank remittance reports. This change eliminates the standard 3-5 day payment timeline for immediate fund release but requires providers to be enrolled in ACH payments with banks that support real-time processing.
Action Required
Before March 1, 2026: Billing and finance teams must verify enrollment in automated clearinghouse (ACH) payments and confirm bank supports real-time payments. Contact financial institutions to ensure access to extended remittance reporting for BAI codes 158, 159, 399, and 459. Update bank reconciliation processes to identify real-time payments in EDI 835 files and Provider Portal Document Library.