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Claim Adjustment & Appeals Guidelines

Type of Claim/Correspondence Address/Fax/Electronic ID Submission Guidelines
Corrected Claim
  • Electronic: Submit to the Payer ID that the original claim was submitted to
  • Paper: Submit to the claim address on the back of the Member's ID card.

A corrected claim is a claim that was originally submitted with incorrect information and is being resubmitted.

When submitting a corrected claim electronically, update the Claim Frequency Code with:

  • 7 = Replacement (replacement of prior claim).
  • 8 = Void (void/cancel of prior claim).

When submitting a corrected claim on paper, the following must be included:

  • A completed CMS 1500 (PDF 361k) or UB-04 (PDF 149k) claim form with the corrected information.
  • The words "Corrected Claim" written or stamped in Field 19 (Reserved for Local Use) of the CMS 1500 (PDF 361k) claim form or Field 84 (Remarks) on the UB-04 (PDF 149k) claim form.
Timely Filing Denial Submit to the claim address on the back of the member's ID card.

When submitting a request for reconsideration for timely filing, the following must be included:

  • Valid proof of timely filing, such as the EDI Acceptance Report for electronic claim(s), etc.

For more information, please refer to CIGNA's Timely Filing Policy.

Duplicate Submission Denial Submit to the claim address on the back of the member's ID card.

When submitting an appeal for a claim that has been denied as a duplicate, the following must be included:

  • The Explanation of Benefits (EOB), Explanation of Payment (EOP) or Claim Control number of the claim being disputed.
  • Reason why you are disputing the claim.
Incomplete Submission Denial Submit to the claim address on the back of the member's ID card.

When submitting an appeal for a claim has been denied for incomplete information, the following must be included:

  • The original Explanation of Benefits (EOB), Explanation of Payment (EOP) or letter requesting the additional information.
  • The requested information, such as operative reports, test results, admission/discharge summary, etc.
Authorization Not Obtained- Services Denied CIGNA Healthcare Inc. National Appeals Unit (NAO)
PO Box 188011
Chattanooga, TN 37422

When submitting an appeal for a claim that has been denied for no authorization, the following must be included:

  • The original Explanation of Benefits (EOB), Explanation of Payment (EOP) or letter requesting the additional information.
  • The documentation that supports why the decision needs to be overturned, such as operative reports, medical records, etc.
  • Completed Provider Payment Appeal form (PDF 167k). Select:
    • Medical Necessity.
Medical Necessity Denial CIGNA Healthcare Inc. National Appeals Unit (NAO)
PO Box 188011
Chattanooga, TN 37422

When submitting an appeal for Medical Necessity claim denial, the following must be included:

  • The original Explanation of Benefits (EOB), Explanation of Payment (EOP).
  • The documentation that supports why the decision needs to be overturned, such as operative reports, medical records, etc.
  • Completed Provider Payment Appeal form (PDF 167k). Select:
    • Medical Necessity.
Authorization Denial (for services not yet rendered) CIGNA Healthcare Inc. National Appeals Unit (NAO)
PO Box 188011
Chattanooga, TN 37422

When submitting an appeal for a denied authorization (for services not yet rendered), complete the Provider Payment Appeal form (PDF 167k) and answer "yes" to the following question:

Is this an Appeal for a service that has not been rendered that requires authorization?

Claim Reimbursement including: Mutually Exclusive, Incidental or Bundling Denials and Modifier Reimbursements CIGNA Healthcare Inc. National Appeals Unit (NAO)
PO Box 188011
Chattanooga, TN 37422

When submitting an appeal for claim reimbursement, complete the Provider Payment Appeal form (PDF 167k) and select:

  • Mutually Exclusive, Incidental or Bundling Denial.
  • Modifier Reimbursement.

Include supporting documentation including clinical information, if needed.

Contract/ Fee Schedule Dispute CIGNA Healthcare Inc. National Appeals Unit (NAO)
PO Box 188011
Chattanooga, TN 37422

When submitting an appeal for a contract or fee schedule dispute, complete the Provider Payment Appeal form (PDF 167k) and select:

  • Provider Fee Schedule /Contract Language.

Include the specific contract element you disagree with and a copy of the contract page.

Experimental/Investigational Procedure CIGNA Healthcare Inc. National Appeals Unit (NAO)
PO Box 188011
Chattanooga, TN 37422

When submitting an appeal for an experimental/investigational procedure that was denied, complete the Provider Payment Appeal form (PDF 167k) and select:

  • Experimental/Investigational Procedure.
Inpatient Facility Denial (Level of Care, Length of Stay, Delayed Treatment Day) CIGNA Healthcare Inc. National Appeals Unit (NAO)
PO Box 188011
Chattanooga, TN 37422

When submitting an appeal for an inpatient facility denial or reduced payment, complete the Provider Payment Appeal form (PDF 167k) and select:

  • Inpatient Facility Denial (Level of Care, Length of Stay, Delayed Treatment Day).
Benefit
  • Exclusion.
  • Limitation.
  • Administration (i.e. copay, deductible, etc).
CIGNA Healthcare Inc. National Appeals Unit (NAO)
PO Box 188011
Chattanooga, TN 37422

When submitting an appeal related to application of the member's benefits (i.e.: exclusion, limitation, administration), complete the Provider Payment Appeal form (PDF 167k) and select:

  • Benefit Exclusion or Limitation.
  • Benefit Administration (i.e. co-payment, deductible, etc).
Maximum Reimbursable Amount CIGNA Healthcare Inc. National Appeals Unit (NAO)
PO Box 188011
Chattanooga, TN 37422

When submitting an appeal for the maximum reimbursable amount, complete the Provider Payment Appeal form (PDF 167k) and select:

  • Maximum Reimbursable Amount.
Second Level Appeals CIGNA Healthcare Inc. National Appeals Unit (NAO)
PO Box 188011
Chattanooga, TN 37422

When submitting a second level appeal for any reason, complete the Provider Payment Appeal form (PDF 167k) and answer "yes" to the following question:

  • Is this a 2nd request for Appeal?