Important Notice regarding Medicare Northwest

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has awarded Noridian Administrative Services the Medicare Part A work in Idaho and Oregon now administered by Medicare Northwest. The transition to Noridian is underway and expected to be completed in December. Noridian's contract for Idaho and Oregon will be in place until the new Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) contractor for Jurisdiction 2 is awarded in the summer of 2007.

Noridian, which is affiliated with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, is an experienced Medicare contractor. It also administers Medicare Part A contracts in Alaska, Minnesota, North Dakota and Washington, as well as Part B contracts in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming.

Regence and Medicare Northwest, a division within The Regence Group, decided to terminate Medicare fee-for-service administration in Idaho, Oregon and Utah with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), in advance of CMS issuing new Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) contracts.

During the transition period, Medicare claims will continue to be paid promptly and Regence’s Medicare employees will continue to serve Medicare providers and beneficiaries.

The transition will have no effect on our private Medicare business. Regence will continue to offer MedAdvantage and Medicare supplement products in all states and Medicare HMO products in Oregon. In January 2006, Regence will also begin offering Medicare Part D coverage for prescription drugs.

Regence continues to be committed to providing excellent service to Medicare providers and beneficiaries. If you have questions, please contact your Regence provider relations representative.

Visit Medicare Northwest for additional Regence Medicare coverage information.