Authorization Requirements & Criteria

Important information during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

For temporary changes and recommendations for providers, refer to our COVID-19 provider webpage

Find more information for providers:

  1. Log in to our provider portal (availity.com)*.
  2. Click Payer Spaces on the Availity menu bar.
  3. Click the BCBSM and BCN logo.
  4. Click Secure Provider Resources (Blue Cross and BCN) on the Resources tab.
  5. Click Coronavirus on the Member Care tab.

This page provides Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's prior authorization requirements, including information that applies to:

For both Blue Cross commercial and Medicare Plus Blue members

Utilization management criteria – Blue Cross commercial and Medicare Plus Blue

Forms – Blue Cross commercial and Medicare Plus Blue

For Blue Cross commercial members

Information on requesting authorization – Blue Cross commercial

Utilization management criteria – Blue Cross commercial

Forms – Blue Cross commercial

Air ambulance authorization requests – Blue Cross commercial

Blue Cross PPO (commercial) Provider Manual

To access the manual, complete these steps:

  1. Log in to our provider portal (availity.com)*.
  2. Click Payer Spaces on the Availity menu bar.
  3. Click the BCBSM and BCN logo.
  4. Click Provider Manuals on the Resources tab.
  5. Click Blue Cross commercial.

For Medicare Plus Blue members

Services that require authorization – Medicare Plus Blue

Forms – Medicare Plus Blue

Authorization criteria and preview questionnaires – Medicare Plus Blue

We use either our authorization criteria or our medical policies to make determinations on prior authorization requests for the services listed below. To view these items:

  • To view authorization criteria, click the “Authorization criteria” link to the right of the service below. If there isn’t a link to an authorization criteria document, we’ll use the pertinent medical policy to make the determination.
  • To view a medical policy, open our Medical Policy Router Search page on bcbsm.com. Enter a procedure code in the Policy/Topic Keyword field to search for the pertinent policy.
Various procedures
Ambulatory event monitors, implantable Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Balloon ostial dilation Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Blepharoplasty and repair of brow ptosis Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Deep brain stimulation Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Endovascular intervention, peripheral artery Authorization criteria (PDF)
Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Endovenous ablation for treatment of varicose veins Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Ethmoidectomy, endoscopic Authorization criteria (PDF)
Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Gastric pacing / stimulation Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Hammertoe correction surgery Authorization criteria (PDF)
Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Left atrial appendage closure Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Noncoronary vascular stents Authorization criteria (PDF)
Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cardiac, trigger Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cardiac atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter Authorization criteria (PDF)
Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cardiac frequent monomorphic premature ventricular contractions Authorization criteria (PDF)
Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cardiac nonsustained ventricular tachycardia Authorization criteria (PDF)
Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cardiac suspected AVNRT, AVRT or focal atrial tachycardia Authorization criteria (PDF)
Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cardiac sustained (more than 30 seconds) ventricular tachycardia Authorization criteria (PDF)
Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cardiac treatment for preexcitation syndrome or WPW syndrome Authorization criteria (PDF)
Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Rhinoplasty Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Sacral nerve neuromodulation/stimulation Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Septoplasty Authorization criteria (PDF) — for dates of service before Jan. 1, 2024
Authorization criteria (PDF) — for dates of service on or after Jan. 1, 2024
Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Sinusotomy, frontal, endoscopic Authorization criteria (PDF)
Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Thyroidectomy, partial Authorization criteria (PDF)
Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Thyroidectomy, total Authorization criteria (PDF) — for dates of service before Jan. 1, 2024
Authorization criteria (PDF) — for dates of service on or after Jan. 1, 2024
Preview questionnaire (PDF)
Vascular embolization or occlusion of hepatic tumors (TACE/RFA) Preview questionnaire (PDF)

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