CDA Essentials 2018 • Volume 5 • Issue 8

17 Issue 8 | 2018 | CDA at W ork COORDINATION OF BENEFITS A Valuable CDA e-Claims Service Electronic coordination of benefits (COB) is underutilized in many Canadian dental offices, according toDonna Cunningham, CDAmanager of practice support services. “Some offices may not be aware that it’s possible to electronically coordinate benefits when two claims processors are involved,” she says. “But we want more offices to know that this feature is available because it’s a service that patients value for the faster turnaround times on their secondary claim. Another benefit for offices or patients—depending on who is responsible for mailing the paper claim—is avoiding the hassle and cost of mailing a letter to the secondary plan.” Claims processors that support electronically submitted coordination of benefits claims (technically known as the “COB Claim 07” transaction) include major insurance carriers like Sun Life Financial, Great-West Life Assurance Company, Green Shield Canada, Pacific Blue Cross, Alberta Blue Cross, La Capitale and Manitoba Blue Cross. A new section on the CDA website ( cda-adc.ca/carriers ) provides information about CDAnet carriers, including the full list of claims processors that support the COB Claim 07 transaction and other transactions. To coordinate benefits electronically at your office, the COB Claim 07 transaction must be enabled in your practice management software for the carriers that support it (see boxed text). “The capability of using the COB 07 transaction is part of the CDAnet messaging standard, so this means it is available in practice management software,” says Ms. Cunningham. “If you’re not sure how to coordinate benefits electronically in your office, contact your vendor for help.” a We want more offices to know that this feature is available because it’s a service that patients value for the faster turnaround times on their secondary claim. – Donna Cunningham – Alberta Blue Cross, including Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan – ADSC- Alberta Dental Services Corporation (Alberta Employment, Immigration, and Industry Program) – Association des policières et policiers provinciaux du Québec – Canadian Benefit Providers – Great-West Life Assurance Company (as of December 2018) – Green Shield Canada – Groupe Financier AGA Inc. – La Capitale – Manitoba Blue Cross – NexgenRx – Ontario Ironworkers – Pacific Blue Cross – Quikcard – RBC Insurance – SSQ Financial Group – Sun Life Financial – The Co-Operators – U-L Mutual Claims Processors Supporting COB Claim 07