Medicare AdvantageAdministrativeMedium impact
Referrals to home healthcare for Medicare Advantage members: Grace period extended through Sept. 30 for acute care providers
BCBS Michigan·MI · General Practice, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine +3 more·Medicare
Effective date
Sep 30, 2026
We identified it
Jun 26, 2026
Summary
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has extended the grace period for home healthcare referrals for Medicare Advantage members from May 31, 2026, through September 30, 2026. During this extension, acute care providers do not need to submit referrals directly to tango; home healthcare providers can continue submitting referral requests directly to tango. This delay gives providers additional time to transition to tango's operational model and complete necessary connections.
Action Required
By September 30, 2026: Acute care providers (discharge planners and care teams) must prepare for mandatory transition to submit referrals directly to tango for Medicare Advantage home healthcare services. Current action items: (1) Contact tango Provider Relations team at providerrelations@tangocare.com to establish connections and complete transition activities, (2) Train discharge planning and care team staff on tango operational model and referral process requirements, (3) Update discharge workflows and prior authorization processes in billing/EHR systems to require direct referral submission to tango after grace period expires. Failure to transition by September 30, 2026, will result in delayed approvals and potential claim denials for home health episodes starting October 1, 2026.