Anthem Blue Cross announced in its October Network bulletin that providers can now update their demographic information via the Availity web portal. Practices can now submit online changes for their practice profile, including the following: 

• Name changes
• Address and phone/fax changes
• Tax ID changes
• Providers leaving a group
• Opening/closing a practice location

To submit changes electronically, use the Provider Maintenance Form, located on the Availity website. The form can be found in the Availity web portal main menu under Payer Resources Page > Anthem > Physician Change Requests/Provider Maintenance Form. Once changes are submitted, practices will receive an auto-reply e-mail acknowledging receipt of their request. Updates to provider demographic or practice information may take up to 20 days to be reflected in the Provider Finder.

Providers may also use this process to initiate a contractual termination; however, Anthem advises that providers submitting a notice of contractual termination must provide at least 120 days advance notice.

For more information on how to submit provider demographic updates to the major payors in California, see CMA's resource, "Updating Provider Demographic Information with Payors," available free to CMA members on our website.