Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Division of Medical Assistance
600 Washington Street
Boston, MA  02111
www.mass.gov/dma	
		MassHealth
		All Provider Bulletin 119 
		January 2003

	TO:	All Providers Participating in MassHealth

	FROM:	Douglas S. Brown, Acting Commissioner

	RE:	Modifications to REVS Automated Voice Response (AVR) System

Background	Next month, the Automated Voice Response (AVR) system, one of several options available through the Recipient Eligibility Verification System (REVS) to verify MassHealth member eligibility, will be updated to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards for the Eligibility Inquiry and Response (270/271) transactions.  

AVR System	Providers will now need a user ID number and a password to access the 
Modifications 	AVR.  The ID and password will be assigned to you by Electronic Data
Systems (EDS) upon receipt of a signed Trading Partner Agreement (TPA).  Providers who already have a completed TPA on file do not need to complete a new agreement.  Their existing password and user ID will allow them access to the updated AVR.

Only the updated AVR system will be available to providers after February.  You will receive further information in the coming weeks via message text on your remittance advice and AVR system messaging.

The AVR system enables you to verify member eligibility using a member’s MassHealth card number, recipient ID (RID) number, or name, date of birth, and gender.  

Please take this opportunity to review all of the REVS choices available to you.  Visit the Division’s Web site at: www.mass.gov/dma.  From the home page menu on the left, click on “Information for Providers,” then “REVS,” then “Access methods” to review your options.

Trading Partner	A signed TPA is required to use the updated AVR system, as well as
Agreement	any other REVS access method.  You must complete a MassHealth 
	TPA (attached), if you have not already done so, and return 
	it to EDS at the address below.

										

Trading Partner	EDS
Agreement	ATTN:  Provider Services
(cont)	155 Federal Street, 6th Floor
Boston, MA  02110

Questions	If you have questions about the Trading Partner Agreement (TPA), the AVR system, or any other REVS access method, please contact the EDS HelpDesk at 1-800-462-7738.