INFORMATIONAL LETTER NO. 896

DATE:                        April 15, 2010

TO:                              Iowa Medicaid Providers

FROM:                        Iowa Department of Human Services, Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME)

RE:                               Electronic Payment and Informational Letters

EFFECTIVE:               July 1, 2010

This is a reminder that beginning July 1^st, provider payments and Informational Letters will be transmitted exclusively in an electronic format.  These changes are part of a larger and continuing commitment to help make Medicaid as responsive and cost effective as possible.

Provider Payment

Provider payments will only be transmitted via an electronic format effective July 1, 2010.  This means paper checks will no longer be issued as of this date.  Providers are encouraged to sign up now for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) through Provider Services. 

w  This will not impact CDAC providers who are already dues paying members of AFSCME and receive their payments from BMGI.  Only those CDAC providers who are paid directly by the IME via paper check will need to make a change.

w  Every provider with a bank account that still receives a paper check from the IME should complete an EFT Authorization (form 470-4202) to set up the EFT transaction. Providers who do not currently have a bank account, are encouraged to set one up now and sign up for EFT payments.  The EFT form can be obtained by going to http://www.ime.state.ia.us/Providers/Forms.html , or by calling the number below.  The form may be faxed to 515-725-1155 or mailed to the address on the form.

w  The IME is in the process of implementing a debit card option for providers who are not able to secure a bank account by the July deadline.  More details on that process will follow in future letters.

Informational Letters

Informational Letters (like this one) that notify Medicaid providers about various program and policy changes are currently mailed to the provider’s listed correspondence address on file at the IME.  On and after July 1, 2010, these will only be available electronically.  Providers can already access all Informational Letters on the Provider Bulletins section of our website:  http://www.ime.state.ia.us/Providers/Bulletins.html .  More details will follow in future letters as to how to sign up for e-mail notification of Informational Letters.

The IME appreciates your partnership as we work together to serve the needs of Iowa Medicaid members. If you have any questions, please contact the IME Provider Services Unit at 1 - 800 - 338 - 7909, or locally (in Des Moines) at 515 - 256 - 4609, or by e - mail at imeproviderservices@dhs.state.ia.us .