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January 21, 2022

Medical PRAs won’t be mailed in 2022

Last updated: Aug. 30, 2022

Effective Feb. 4, 2022, we will no longer print and mail paper provider remittance advice (PRAs) for medical claims to network health care professionals and facilities (primary and ancillary) in the Central, Northeast and Southeast regions.* It also applies to all UnitedHealthcare commercial, Medicare Advantage and Community Plans.

The change does not impact the payment method for subscribers enrolled in Optum Pay. You will continue to receive an electronic remittance advice (ERA)/835, but the paper PRA will no longer be mailed.

Please share this information with others in your organization who need to know about this change. If you work with an outside vendor, such as a revenue cycle management company for your mail processing, please talk with them to determine how this change may affect your contract or processing arrangements with them.

Options to view PRAs electronically
There are several ways you can view PRAs electronically. Choose the one that works best for your practice or facility:

1. Document Library: This secure online repository of reports and claim-related communications is available through the UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal. PRAs are produced at the time of payment processing and available for you to access the next day in Document Library.

2. Optum Pay: For payments facilitated by Optum Pay, you can reconcile remittance data, including a downloadable version of the PRA, with basic portal or premium portal access.

Basic portal access is free to those enrolled in Automated Clearing House (ACH)/direct deposit through Optum Pay. Premium portal access is a fee-based service that includes additional practice management features and data aggregation tools. 

3. EDI: Set up ERA 835 transactions using electronic data interchange (EDI) to receive your PRAs electronically. An additional benefit is the capability to autopost payments into your practice management or hospital information system. Contact your clearinghouse to start the process. Note: ERA/385 setup takes about 30 days from when we receive the request.

States affected by this change

Central

  • Illinois
  • Indiana*
  • Iowa
  • Kansas*
  • Kentucky*
  • Michigan*
  • Missouri*
  • Nebraska*
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio*
  • Oklahoma
  • South Dakota
  • Texas
  • Wisconsin*

Southeast

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Louisiana*
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee

Northeast

  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • Maryland
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington, D.C.*
  • West Virginia

Upcoming digital transitions
Over the next several years, we’re moving toward digital (paperless) delivery of reports and medical claim-related communications. This change impacts network health care professionals and facilities (primary and ancillary). Announcements will be made on UHCprovider.com/news 90 days before mailings end, so you have time to prepare.

Questions?
Please visit our Contact Us page.

*PRAs will continue to be mailed to: UnitedHealthcare commercial, Medicare Advantage and Community Plans of Minnesota; UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Indiana; UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kansas; UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kentucky; UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana; UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan; UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Missouri; UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Nebraska; UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio; UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Washington, D.C.; UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Wisconsin; Behavioral Health; American Association of Retired Persons (AARP®)/Medicare supplement products; All Savers Insurance; UHCWest; UnitedHealthOne; UMR; UnitedHealthcare Global; Student Resources; Home- and Community-Based Services; and Optum VA Critical Care Network (CCN).
Please note: The paperless transition for PRAs for Oxford Health Plans® in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York has been delayed. PRAs will continue to be mailed. We’ll announce a new paperless transition date at least 30 days in advance of the new implementation date. 
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