October 2001: Dental Provisions #17

Northwest Washington Medical Bureau affiliation update
Last December, Northwest Washington Medical Bureau (NWMB) merged with Regence BlueShield. As a result of this merger, dental claims should be handled as follows, regardless of date of service:

• Effective September 6, 2001, please mail paper claims to:

Regence BlueShield
P.O. Box 91077
Seattle, WA 98111-9177

• Effective September 6, 2001, oral surgeons should mail medical claims to:

Regence BlueShield
P.O. Box 21267
Seattle, WA 98111-3267

• Effective September 10, 2001, please send electronic claims using the 93200 payer ID number for Regence BlueShield.

Discontinue sending claims to the Gilkey Road address in Burlington and the Colorado Springs address for Health Management Services (HMS).

Also, as of October 1, 2001, Regence BlueShield will pay only participating dental providers directly. We will mail copayee checks with the member's and provider's names to the member's home when they use a non-participating dentist. If you are currently a non-participating provider receiving direct payment from NWMB or HMS, you can continue receiving direct payment by becoming a participating Regence BlueShield provider. Otherwise, your patients will receive copayee checks starting October 1, 2001.

Regence BlueShield cards are being issued in October to all members previously covered through NWMB.

If you have questions about this merger or would like to discuss participation, please call Loretta Eline, senior dental relations representative, at (206) 464-5012.

Back to Dental Provisions #17