AIM Specialty Health ® (AIM)

Important Update: Effective 10/11/2021, AIM will handle prior authorization for Pharmacy Medical Oncology for some commercial members. For more information go here. Refer to the BCBSTX training page for upcoming sessions.

Overview

AIM is a specialty health benefits company that works with leading insurers to improve health care quality and manage costs for today’s most complex and prevalent tests and treatments, helping to promote care that is appropriate, safe and affordable. AIM provides:

• Prior authorization and post service medical necessity review for certain outpatient services
• Prenotification Radiology Quality Initiative (RQI) program for outpatient high-tech diagnostic imaging services

Be sure to verify eligibility and benefits and check prior authorization/prenotification requirements through Availity ® or your preferred vendor to determine if a prior authorization or an RQI is needed for the patient depending on their benefit plan.

AIM Prior Authorization Program

AIM provides required prior authorization review and approvals for select outpatient services. for some members of the following plans:

• Blue Choice PPO SM
• Blue Essentials SM
• Blue Premier SM and Blue Premier Access SM
• Blue Advantage HMO SM
• MyBlue Health SM
• Blue High Performance Network SM
• Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) participants

With AIM administering prior authorizations, we can optimize our programs, further ensuring that care aligns with established evidence-based medicine.

Outpatient Services Impacted

Select category below for details from the AIM website.

• Cardiology
• Genetic Testing
• Joint and Spine Surgery, and Pain Management
• Medical Oncology (Effective 10/11/2021)
• Radiation Therapy
• Radiology
• Sleep

Prior Authorization Reminders

• Providers need to determine if prior authorization is required through AIM before rendering services. Services can vary depending on the patient benefits.
• Ordering physicians or servicing providers (facilities) may submit prior authorization requests.
• For joint and spine surgery prior authorizations, if an outpatient or inpatient facility stay is being requested, providers will contact AIM first for medical necessity determination, then contact BCBSTX for final determination of length of stay & the level of care.
• Payment may be denied if procedures are performed without authorization and health care providers may not bill the patient.

AIM Radiology Quality Initiative Program

AIM provides clinical appropriateness review and education for outpatient high-tech diagnostic imaging services through their prenotification Radiology Quality Initiative (RQI) program for some Blue Choice PPO SM members.

When an RQI is needed, health care providers must contact AIM before ordering or scheduling the following outpatient diagnostic imaging services when performed in a physician's/professional provider's office, the outpatient department of a hospital or a freestanding imaging center:

• CT/CTA
• MRI/MRA
• SPECT/Nuclear Cardiology studies
• PET scans

RQI Reminders

• Facilities can now obtain an RQI from AIM on behalf of the ordering physician.
• The RQI program does not apply to Medicare primary members with BCBSTX Medicare supplement.
• RQI requirements are for notification purposes only.
• Failure to obtain an RQI number alone will not impact claims payment. However, if you do not obtain an RQI number before providing Advanced Imaging services and the services are subsequently deemed not medically necessary, claims payment will be impacted.

Benefits of the AIM ProviderPortal for Pre & Post-Service Reviews:

• Offers self-service, smart clinical algorithms and in many instances real-time determinations
• Check prior authorization status
• Increases payment certainty
• Provides faster pre-service decision turnaround times than post service reviews
• Medical records for pre or post-service reviews are not necessary unless specifically requested by AIM.

Submitting Requests to AIM

Attend free training sessions on how to submit requests for AIM Prior Authorizations and Radiology Quality Initiatives (RQI). Refer to the AIM training page for available sessions.

Information Needed

Ensure you have all the following before requesting a Prior Authorization or RQI from AIM:

• Patient’s identification number, name and date of birth
• Ordering physician's or professional provider's name, address and telephone
• Imaging provider information (name, location)
• Imaging exams being requested (body part, right, left or bilateral)
• Patient diagnosis (suspected or confirmed)
• Clinical symptoms
• Additional information may be necessary for complex cases including results of past treatment history (previous tests, duration of previous therapy, relevant clinical medical history)

Submission Methods

Providers are encouraged to utilize the AIM Provider Portal for the most efficient method to submit requests.

Online: Log in to the AIM ProviderPortal SM .
Available 24/7/365

Phone: 1-800-859-5299
Monday – Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, 9 a.m. to noon CT

Fax: 1-800-610-0050
Note: Fax option is available only for physicians or professional providers who are submitting clinical information for existing requests.

Request Process

• Do not submit medical records unless requested by AIM.
• Based on clinical criteria, AIM will issue a prior authorization or an RQI order number or forward the case to a nurse or physician for review.
• The physician reviewer may contact the ordering physician to discuss the case in greater detail within 2 business days of receipt of the request.
• Ordering physician or professional providers may also contact AIM's physician reviewer at any time during the review process.
• If criteria are not met or additional information is needed, the case will be automatically transferred for further clinical evaluation.
• When criteria are met, AIM will provide an approved request order number, which will include the dates it is valid.
• This is not a guarantee of payment. The claim will be processed in accordance with the terms of a member/participant's health benefit plan. Requests will be directed to the most cost-effective outpatient providers to maximize benefits.

Notes:

• Health care providers who are contracted/affiliated with a capitated IPA/Medical Group must contact the IPA/Medical Group for instructions regarding referral and preauthorization processes. Additionally, health care providers who are not part of a capitated IPA/Medical Group but who provide services to a member/participant whose PCP is contracted/affiliated with a capitated IPA/Medical Group must contact the applicable IPA/Medical Group for instructions.
• For BlueCard ® members, please contact Customer Service utilizing the phone number on the back of the ID card to determine if the AIM prior authorization or RQI program applies.

AIM Specialty Health is an independent medical benefits management company that provides utilization management services for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX).

Availity is a trademark of Availity, LLC, a separate company that operates a health information network to provide electronic information exchange services to medical professionals. Availity provides administrative services to BCBSTX.

BCBSTX makes no endorsement, representations or warranties regarding any products or services provided by third party vendors such as Availity or AIM Specialty Health. If you have any questions about the products or services provided by such vendors, you should contact the vendor(s) directly.

Please note that checking eligibility and benefits, and/or the fact that a service or treatment has been prior authorized or predetermined for benefits is not a guarantee of payment. Benefits will be determined once a claim is received and will be based upon, among other things, the member’s eligibility and the terms of the member’s certificate of coverage applicable on the date services were rendered. If you have questions, contact the number on the member’s ID card.