--- title: "Non-Contracted Provider Payment Appeal Process" description: "Find out how the Knox-Keene Act affects your bill." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/non-contracted-provider-payment-appeal-process" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Billing and insurance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance) / 3. [Healthcare Costs and Charges](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges) / 4. Non-Contracted Provider Payment Appeal Process # Non-Contracted Provider Payment Appeal Process  **Section menu** - [Billing and insurance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance "Billing and insurance") - [Help Paying Your Bill](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/financial-assistance "Help Paying Your Bill") - [Healthcare Costs and Charges](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges "Healthcare Costs and Charges") - [Billing for Hospital Anesthesia](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/billing-hospital-anesthesia "Billing for Hospital Anesthesia") - [Healthcare Cost Transparency](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/cost-transparency "Healthcare Cost Transparency") - [No Surprises Act](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/no-surprises-act "No Surprises Act") - [Non-Contracted Provider Payment Appeal Process](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/non-contracted-provider-payment-appeal-process "Non-Contracted Provider Payment Appeal Process") - [Medicare](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare "Medicare") - [Annual Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/aep "Annual Enrollment Period") - [Medicare basics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-basics "Medicare basics") - [Medicare wellness visits](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-wellness-visits "Medicare wellness visits") - [Special Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/sep "Special Enrollment Period") - [Initial Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/iep "Initial Enrollment Period") - [Late enrollment penalties](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/late-enrollment-penalties "Late enrollment penalties") - [Medicare Related Events](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare-related-events "Medicare Related Events") - [Sutter Medicare Direct](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/sutter-medicare-direct "Sutter Medicare Direct") - [Health Insurance Information Guide](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/health-insurance-information-guide "Health Insurance Information Guide") - [Billing and insurance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance "Billing and insurance") - [Help Paying Your Bill](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/financial-assistance "Help Paying Your Bill") - [Healthcare Costs and Charges](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges "Healthcare Costs and Charges") - [Billing for Hospital Anesthesia](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/billing-hospital-anesthesia "Billing for Hospital Anesthesia") - [Healthcare Cost Transparency](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/cost-transparency "Healthcare Cost Transparency") - [No Surprises Act](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/no-surprises-act "No Surprises Act") - [Non-Contracted Provider Payment Appeal Process](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/non-contracted-provider-payment-appeal-process "Non-Contracted Provider Payment Appeal Process") - [Medicare](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare "Medicare") - [Annual Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/aep "Annual Enrollment Period") - [Medicare basics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-basics "Medicare basics") - [Medicare wellness visits](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/medicare-wellness-visits "Medicare wellness visits") - [Special Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/sep "Special Enrollment Period") - [Initial Enrollment Period](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/iep "Initial Enrollment Period") - [Late enrollment penalties](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare/late-enrollment-penalties "Late enrollment penalties") - [Medicare Related Events](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/medicare-related-events "Medicare Related Events") - [Sutter Medicare Direct](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/sutter-medicare-direct "Sutter Medicare Direct") - [Health Insurance Information Guide](https://www.sutterhealth.org/billing-insurance/health-insurance-information-guide "Health Insurance Information Guide") Under the Knox-Keene Act of the State of California, the patient to whom services were provided is not liable for any portion of the bill, except for copays or non-benefit items, if applicable. The provider should not bill the patient or accept collection against the patient. The applicable regulation is 1379 of the Knox-Keene Act. AB72/Cal. H&S Code State of California prohibits surprise billing for services rendered to Commercial members by non-contracted providers in a contracted facility. Providers have a right to file a formal dispute regarding a claim or contract. For instructions on submitting a formal dispute, call Customer Service listed on your Remittance Advice. Mail disputes to: Provider Disputes, PO Box 211624, Eagan MN 55121. For electronic instructions and submission, visit [Sutter Link](http://www.sutterehrlink.org/ "Please note you are now leaving the Sutter Health website"). Check your [claim's status online](http://claimsinquiry.sutterhealth.org/ "Please note you are now leaving the Sutter Health website"). [Explanation of Payment (PDF)](https://www.sutterhealth.org/-/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/files/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/non-contracted-provider-payment-appeal-process/explanation-of-payment.pdf "Explanation of Payment (PDF)") Effective January 1, 2010, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded its current provider payment appeal process for appeals between non-contracted and deemed providers and Private Fee for Service Plans (PFFS) to include disputes between non-contracted providers and all of the following: - Medicare Advantage Organizations (HMO, PPO, RPPO and PFFS) - 1876 Cost Plans - Medi-Medi Plans - Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organizations ## Download Non Participating Provider Waiver-Appeal [Download PDF](https://www.sutterhealth.org/-/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/files/billing-insurance/costs-and-charges/non-contracted-provider-payment-appeal-process/non-participating-provider-liability-waiver-appeal.pdf) ## Medicare Non Participating Provider Appeals **Appeals Process for Non-Contracted Medicare Providers:** Pursuant to federal regulations governing the Medicare Advantage program, non-contracted providers may request reconsideration (appeal) of a Medicare Advantage plan payment denial determination, in whole or in part, including issues related to bundling, level of care, or down coding of services/DRG. To appeal a claim denial, submit a written request within 65 calendar days of the remittance notification date and include at a minimum: - A statement indicating factual or legal basis for appeal - A signed Waiver of Liability form (you may obtain a copy by going to: [https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Appeals-and-Grievances/MMCAG/Downloads/Model-Waiver-of-Liability\_Feb2019v508.zip](https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Appeals-and-Grievances/MMCAG/Downloads/Model-Waiver-of-Liability_Feb2019v508.zip "Please note you are now leaving the Sutter Health website")) - A copy of the original claim - A copy of the remittance notice showing the claim denial - Any additional information, clinical records or documentation ## Medicare Advantage Health Plan Appeal Addresses ### Alignment Healthcare Attn: Provider Appeals and Disputes P. O. Box 14012 Orange, CA 92863 ### Blue Shield of California Attn: Provider Appeals P.O. Box 272640 Chico, CA 95927-2640 ### Health Net Seniority Plus Wellcare by HealthNet Provider Appeal P. O. Box 3060 Farmington, MO 63640-3822 ### Humana Humana Attn: Grievance and Appeal Department P.O. Box 14165 Lexington, KY 40512-4165 800-949-2961 (Fax) ### Stanford Health Care Advantage Claims Attn: Non-Contracted Provider Appeals P.O. Box 71210 Oakland, CA  94612-7310 ### UnitedHealthCare P. O. Box 6106 MS CA 120-0360 Cypress, CA 90630 ### SCAN Grievance and Appeals P.O. Box 22616 Long Beach, CA 90801-9826 Fax: 562-989-0958 ### Medicare Non-Contracted Provider Appeals Process for Care 1st Only: Provider Appeals must be submitted to **SEBMF** within 60 calendar days after the receipt of notice of initial determination/decision. Providers who wish to submit provider appeals to **SEBMF** must also submit a signed a Waiver of Liability statement holding the member harmless regardless of the outcome of the appeal. Refer to Medicare Managed Care Manual, Chapter 13, Section 60.1.1. ## Payment Dispute Process for Non-contracted Medicare Providers Pursuant to federal regulations governing the Medicare Advantage program, non-contracted providers may file a payment dispute for a Medicare Advantage plan payment determination. A payment dispute may be filed when the provider contends the amount paid by the Plan for a Medicare covered service is less than the amount that would have been paid under Original Medicare. To dispute a claim payment, submit a written request within 120 calendar days of the remittance notification date and include at a minimum: - A statement indicating factual or legal basis for the dispute - A copy of the original claim - A copy of the remittance notice showing the claim payment - Any additional information, clinical records or documentation to support the dispute Please refer to the Remittance Advice for payment dispute address. If you do not agree with the dispute determination, you have the option to request a Health Plan dispute review. Please send all dispute requests in writing, accompanied by all documentation to support your position, directly to the Provider Appeals and Disputes team by using the following address: ## Non Participating Provider Dispute Addresses ### Alignment Healthcare Attn: Provider Appeals and Disputes P. O. Box 14012 Orange, CA 92863 ### Care 1st Health Plan Attn: Provider Dispute Dept P.O. Box 3829 Montebello, CA 90640 ### Stanford Healthcare Advantage Attn: Dispute Department P.O. Box 5904 Troy, MI 48007 ### WellCare By Health Net Medicare Provider Disputes P. O. Box 9030 Farmington, MO 63640-9030 ### SCAN 2nd Level Non-Contracted Provider Disputes P.O. Box 21543 Eagan, MN 55121 Fax: 562-997-1835 [How to Submit Claims, Disputes, and Appeals](https://www.scanhealthplan.com/Providers/Claims/How-to-Submit-Claim-Disputes-and-Appeals) ### Medicare Non-Contracted Provider Dispute Process for Care 1st Only: Provider Disputes must be submitted to **SEBMF**, at the address listed below, within 120 calendar days after the notice of initial payment determination. Items that may be filed as Provider Disputes include: - Underpayment (payment less than the Medicare fee schedule); or - Disagreement about our decision to make payment on submitted procedure code or downcoding You may submit your second level written request to Care1st Health Plan if you disagree with our decision on your first level dispute by mail within 180 calendar days of written notice from us or within 30 calendar days from the time we’ve received your request if you have not heard from us. Denials due to coverage determination and medical necessity determinations are not subject to provider dispute process. 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