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Reminder: Commercial Prior Authorization and Referral Approval Letters Will Be Available Digitally Rather Than Mailed, as of Sept. 8, 2026
Act
by Sep 8, 2026
Effective date
Sep 8, 2026
Identified
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.
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What to do
by Sep 8, 2026 · 4 steps
01Billing 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.
02Update internal workflows and staff training to direct all staff to check Availity for approval letters rather than waiting for mail.
03If 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.
04No changes to billing software or claim submission processes are required; this is a communication delivery method change only.
Original notice
Reminder: Commercial Prior Authorization and Referral Approval Letters Will Be Available Digitally Rather Than Mailed, as of Sept. 8, 2026
bcbsil.com · Always check the source before changing claims.
Related changes
See all BCBS Illinois changes →Watch for Digital Access to Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Decision Letters via Availity® EssentialsMediumEffective Dec 11, 2026 · Prior AuthorizationReminder: Digital Access to Prior Authorization and Referral Decision Letters Through Availity® EssentialsMediumEffective Jul 18, 2026 · Prior AuthorizationDigital Access to Prior Authorization Decision Letters via Availity® EssentialsMediumEffective Jul 18, 2026 · Prior AuthorizationBrowse every BCBS Illinois change in the policy list