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
BCBSRI has temporarily 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 up to 180 days instead of the standard 90 days.
Action Required
Immediately: Billing team should be aware that BCBSRI referrals can now be backdated up to 180 days (instead of 90 days) for services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Update referral processing procedures to take advantage of extended timeframe. Monitor for future updates when the system reverts to 90 days.