CDA Essentials 2015 • Volume 2 • Issue 5

15 / 48

15 Volume 2 Issue 5 |
CDA at Work
Alberta Blue Cross accepts X-rays electronically
Alberta Blue Cross now accepts X-rays and other documents in support of
claim transactions using the CDAnet version 4.1 attachment transaction feature.
Dental offices can transmit supporting information electronically, saving
postage and improving turnaround time.
Currently, Maxident and Gold Dental Office Software are the only software systems that fully support attachment
transactions, although others are looking into adding this feature. Find out if your vendor supports or will soon be
supporting this transaction. a
The transmission and administration processes for electronic dental
claims (e-claims) are always evolving. Driven by a variety of factors—
claims processors’ desire to reduce costs, retirement of old technology, and
CDA’s goal of making e-claims simple for dental offices—the following
industry developments could have an impact on the way your dental
office processes claims.
WHAT’SNEWin Electronic Claims?
By Geoff Valentine, CDA Manager of Health Informatics Ser vices
For more information about CDAnet, including a link to a document that lists
the types of transactions supported by the networks and insurance carriers, visit
More Online
Great-West Life introduces bundled payments and statements
Starting in July 2015, Great-West Life is enhancing the payment process for
all dentists by offering weekly direct deposit payments instead of individual
cheques per visit. Payments will include an easy-to-read electronic statement
with details—breakdowns by family name and patient, service codes, tooth
numbers and more—to help you reconcile payments.
Great-West is working with TELUS Health to make signing up for direct deposit and electronic statements fast, easy and
secure. Dentists who do not sign up for direct deposit will receive a cheque and statement by mail twice monthly. Go to
for more information and to sign up.
Sun Life Financial accepts coordination of benefit claims
Sun Life has upgraded to CDAnet version 4 and now accepts co-ordination of
benefits e-claims. This change improves service by reducing claim processing time
and cost.
When a patient has coverage from two different carriers and Sun Life is the
secondary carrier, the dental office can transmit the explanation of benefits from the
first claim to Sun Life for electronic processing. Both claims can often be settled while the patient is still in the office.
If your office is not familiar with the coordination of benefits claim transaction, contact your software vendor for
information on how to process them with your software.