CommercialAdministrativeMedium impact
COVID-19 update regarding referrals
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island·RI·Physician
Effective date
Mar 23, 2020
We identified it
Jun 19, 2026
Summary
BCBS Rhode Island extended the retroactive referral period from 90 days to 180 days during the COVID-19 pandemic, effective March 23, 2020. This allows providers to backdate referrals for a longer period in their Heath Trio system.
Action Required
Immediately: Billing team should verify that referrals can be backdated up to 180 days (instead of 90 days) when processing BCBS Rhode Island claims. Update referral processing procedures to reflect the extended timeframe. Monitor for future updates when the system reverts back to 90 days.