CommercialAdministrativeMedium impact
Reminder: Commercial Prior Authorization and Referral Approval Letters Will Be Available Digitally Rather Than Mailed, as of Sept. 8, 2026
BCBS Illinois·IL·Prior Authorization
Effective date
Sep 8, 2026
We identified it
Aug 25, 2026
Summary
Beginning September 8, 2026, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois will no longer mail prior authorization and referral approval letters to providers via USPS. Instead, all approval letters will be available digitally through the Provider Correspondence Viewer in Availity Essentials. Denial letters will continue to be mailed and remain available electronically. Providers may opt out and continue receiving approval letters by mail by submitting a request to Provider Education Consultants.
Action Required
By September 8, 2026: Billing and authorization staff must transition from relying on mailed prior authorization and referral approval letters to accessing them electronically through the Provider Correspondence Viewer in Availity Essentials. Update internal workflows and staff training to direct all staff to check Availity for approval letters rather than waiting for mail. If the practice prefers to continue receiving approval letters via USPS, submit an opt-out request to Provider Education Consultants before the effective date, including National Provider Identifier, Provider Tax ID, provider name, provider city/state/ZIP, and requester name. No changes to billing software or claim submission processes are required; this is a communication delivery method change only.