Paper checks phasing out for Oxford claim payments

By late second quarter 2023, UnitedHealthcare will no longer send paper checks for many* claim payments for Oxford plans in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. This change supports our continued efforts to accelerate payments to your practice by moving to digital transactions. As outlined in your contract with UnitedHealthcare, you are required to do business with us electronically.

This change applies to network health care professionals who are not currently enrolled in Automated Clearing House (ACH)/direct deposit with Optum Pay™. If you already receive ACH/direct deposit payment for Oxford claims, there is nothing you need to do. You’ll continue to receive payments as you do today.

Action needed: Choose your electronic payment method

1. Enroll in ACH/direct deposit today — it’s the quickest form of payment
   We encourage you to enroll by May 10, 2023. This should allow sufficient time for registration to be complete before UnitedHealthcare stops mailing paper checks. We can route payments at the tax ID number (TIN) and National Provider Identifier (NPI) number level.

• Enrollment with UnitedHealthcare generally takes less than 10 minutes. You’ll need to provide your current bank account information.
• With direct deposit payments, you’ll have automatic access to the free Optum Pay basic portal to review payment and remittance advice details. (You can also view your provider remittance advice (PRA) in Document Library at any time.)

2. Receive virtual card payments
   If you don’t enroll in ACH/direct deposit or your registration isn’t complete by May 10, 2023, you’ll receive claim payments in the form of virtual card payments (VCP). VCPs are electronic payments that are processed using credit card technology. Unlike ACH/direct deposit, it doesn’t require health care professionals to share bank account information with UnitedHealthcare.

• Each VCP is issued in the form of a 16‐digit, single-use virtual card for payment of individual or multiple claims
• The VCP is issued for the full claim payment amount. However, VCPs are subject to additional terms and conditions, including any fees from the card service processor.
• All VCP statements can be viewed in Document Library in the UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal 

3. Please note: We cannot hold claim payments while you are registering for ACH/direct deposit. You’ll begin receiving claim payments via direct deposit once your registration is finalized and your ACH is activated with your financial institution. You can enroll in direct deposit even after receiving a VCP. If you choose that option, direct deposit will only apply to future payments and cannot be applied to any previous claim payments.

Because network health care professionals and facilities are required to do business with us electronically, we must have a valid email address on file to send required notifications and important information. Please update your preferences regularly. More details are available in the Provider Communication chapter of the 2023 UnitedHealthcare Administrative Guide.

Questions?

Visit UHCprovider.com/payment or view our frequently asked questions for more information.

*Health plan, line of business and state-specific exclusions apply. Please see #4 and #13 in the important electronic payment program information (below). The most up-to-date information can be found at UHCprovider.com/digital.

Important electronic payment program information

1. Merchant card processing fees may apply to virtual cards. Please reach out to your merchant processor or financial institution for information on specific terms and costs.

2. Processing your virtual card indicates your consent to receive and accept virtual card payments as payment in full from the payer.

3. Unspent funds for virtual cards are subject to state unclaimed property laws.

4. The following health care professionals must consent to receive a virtual card payment:

Out-of-network medical health care professionals in Florida, New Mexico, New York and Oregon

All network and out-of-network medical health care professionals in Utah, Vermont, Colorado, Georgia and New Jersey

Indiana dental professionals

The processing of the virtual card is your consent to receive and accept virtual card payments. If you don’t consent, when you receive a virtual card, please call the number provided on your virtual card payment to arrange an alternative payment method.

5. You will have the option of signing up for ACH/direct deposit, the preferred method of payment, or to receive a virtual card payment (VCP). The only alternative to a virtual card is direct deposit. Both options allow you to get paid quickly and securely.

6. If your practice/health care organization is still receiving paper checks, you can enroll in ACH/direct deposit for your claim payments now. If you don’t elect to sign up for ACH/direct deposit, a virtual card will be automatically sent in place of paper checks.

7. If your practice/health care organization is already enrolled and receiving your claim payments through ACH/direct deposit from Optum Pay, there is no action you need to take.

8. Both provider remittance advice (PRA) documents and VCP payments are available online through Document Library.

9. Because this initiative will roll out in phases, you may receive virtual card payments for some claim payments and check payments for others (if not enrolled for direct deposit).

10. When you are paid is determined by when you process your payment on your point-of-sale terminal.

11. Optum Financial, a UnitedHealthcare-affiliated company, provides payment services to the health care industry and offers various claim payment options. UnitedHealthcare-affiliated companies may receive transaction fees or other compensation related to some payment options.

12. The virtual card payment program will exclude KanCare payments. Health care professionals enrolled in ACH/direct deposit will receive their payments accordingly. All other health care professionals will receive KanCare payments through paper check.

13. UnitedHealthcare has proactively exempted certain health care professionals and/or organizations from the electronic payment requirement. No change in the current payment method will occur for the following:

Home- and community-based health care professionals

Fire departments

Non-emergency medical transport

Rural health clinics

Indian health services/tribal organizations

Federally qualified health centers

Oral surgeons contracted with UnitedHealthcare Community Plan states

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