CommercialAdministrativeHigh impact
Timely Filing Reminder
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont·VT·Provider News
Effective date
Nov 1, 2026
We identified it
Sep 1, 2026
Summary
Effective November 1, 2026, Blue Cross VT will strictly enforce 180-calendar-day claim filing deadlines for all claims (inpatient, outpatient, and professional), regardless of date of service. The payer will no longer accept phone calls, emails, or account ledgers as proof of timely filing. Claims submitted after 180 days will be automatically denied for timely filing and cannot be appealed or balance-billed to patients.
Action Required
By October 31, 2026: Billing team must implement process changes to ensure all claims are submitted within 180 calendar days of discharge (inpatient) or date of service (outpatient/professional). (1) Audit current claim submission workflows to identify any backlogs or delayed submissions exceeding 180 days. (2) Update billing software to flag claims approaching the 180-day deadline for priority submission. (3) Establish a new internal deadline (suggest 120 days post-service) to build in buffer time before the hard cutoff. (4) Stop relying on phone calls, emails, or account ledger printouts as documentation of timely filing—use only Provider Resource Center records or customer service status confirmations (wait minimum 30 days from submission before requesting status). (5) Train all billing staff on the new strict enforcement policy. (6) For secondary claims: ensure submission occurs within 180 days of the primary payer's processing date. (7) For corrected/adjustment claims: submit within 180 days of original date of service. Failure to comply will result in permanent claim denials with no appeal rights and inability to collect from patients.