Medicare AdvantageAdministrativeHigh impact
[California] Take action: Use no-cost electronic claims and payments to avoid paper administrative fees
Anthem BCBS·CA·Provider Bulletin
Effective date
Oct 1, 2026
We identified it
Aug 2, 2026
Summary
Effective October 1, 2026, Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage will impose a $5 administrative fee for each paper-submitted claim (if net paid amount ≥$10) and each printed paper check (if total paid amount ≥$10). Providers must submit claims electronically and enroll in EFT or other electronic payment methods to avoid these fees.
Action Required
By September 30, 2026: (1) Billing team must ensure all Medicare Advantage claims for Anthem Blue Cross are submitted electronically through Availity Essentials—stop submitting paper claims. Register for Availity Essentials at https://Availity.com if not already registered (no cost); contact Availity Client Services at 800-AVAILITY for support. (2) Enroll in EFT through EnrollSafe at enrollsafe.payeehub.org or call 877-882-0384 to receive electronic payments instead of paper checks. Obtain and review the EnrollSafe User Guide 2025. (3) Update billing workflows and staff training to mandate electronic claim submission for all Anthem MA claims. (4) Verify enrollment completion before the effective date. Failure to transition will result in $5 fees per paper claim and per paper check, reducing net reimbursement and increasing administrative costs. Fees cannot be billed to members.