2018 InterQual^® criteria to be implemented starting Aug. 6

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network will implement the 2018 InterQual criteria starting Aug. 6, 2018, for all levels of care. Until that date, the 2017 InterQual criteria will be used.

Note: In earlier messages, we communicated that the 2018 InterQual criteria would be implemented starting Aug. 1, 2018, but that date has been changed to Aug. 6.

The InterQual criteria are used to make utilization management and care management determinations for the services subject to review, for the follow members:

• Blue Cross PPO (commercial)
• Blue Cross Medicare Plus Blue^SM PPO
• BCN HMO^SM (commercial)
• BCN Advantage^SM

Blue Cross and BCN also use local rules – modifications of InterQual criteria – in making utilization management and care management determinations. The 2018 local rules will be implemented as follows:

• For behavioral health determinations, the 2018 local rules will be used starting Aug. 6. The updated rules will be available by Aug. 3 on the Blue Cross Behavioral Health page and the BCN Behavioral Health page on this website. This applies to BCN HMO (commercial), BCN Advantage and Medicare Plus Blue PPO requests.
  
  Note: Determinations on Blue Cross PPO (commercial) behavioral health services are handled by New Directions, a Blue Cross vendor.


• For non-behavioral health determinations, the 2018 local rules will be implemented starting Oct. 1. We'll let you know through our standard communication channels how to access those rules, once they're available.

Until the 2018 local rules are implemented, the 2017 local rules will be used.

Posted: July 2018
Lines of business: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network