On Availity Essentials, you need your secure user ID and password that will give you access to work with Blue Cross, BCN, and other participating payers in your region.

If your organization already has an Availity Essentials account that you use for another health plan, there’s nothing you need to do. Just wait until you receive word on when to start using Availity Essentials to access information for Blue Cross and BCN providers. If you don’t currently have access to your organization’s Availity Essentials account, but you’ll need it for Blue Cross and BCN work, please ask your organization’s Availity account administrator to add access for you.

How to find your Availity administrator:

If you already have access to Availity:

1. Log in to Availity.
2. Click your name (in the top navigation) and click My Account.
3. Click Organization(s).
4. Click Open My Administrators.

If you don’t have access to Availity, call 1-800 AVAILITY (282-4548) 

If your organization does not have an Availity Essentials account, your organization will need to designate an Availity Essentials administrator to register. Typically, this is an office manager. Below is the information your administrator will need to start the process:

• Basic information about your practice, including your federal tax ID and NPI.
• Permission from your organization’s legal authority, such as an owner or senior partner, to agree to Availity’s Organization Agreement on behalf of your organization.

Here’s what your designated Availity Essentials administrator needs to do:

1. Go to www.availity.com.
2. Click Register, select Providers, and then, follow the steps to complete your registration. If you’re a billing service, select Billing Services.
   For live training or registration guidance or tips, we recommend you refer to the resources located on the Register and Get Started with Availity Essentials page before initiating your registration application.
3. After you complete your registration, Availity will send you emails that include your next steps and temporary password. You may then begin adding other users to your organization.
   
   Note: Refer to the Adding Users help topic to learn how your Availity Essentials administrators can add users, either one at a time, or with a spreadsheet. To view or print this help topic, you must be registered with Availity.

Who do I contact if I need help registering for Availity Essentials?

For registration assistance or a status update, call Availity Client Services at 1-800-AVAILITY (282-4548).
Assistance is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time (excluding holidays).

Your organization must be registered with Availity Essentials, and you must have an Availity account before taking training:

Enroll in a live product training webinar:

1. Go to the Availity Get Up to Speed with Training webpage and click either LAUNCH or Training options.
2. Select a training topic and a date you want to attend, then click Register Here.
3. You’ll need to log in to Availity, and then complete the webinar registration form.

If you can’t attend a live webinar, you can find recorded training or training handouts one of two ways:

• On the Get Up to Speed with Training webpage (you’ll need to sign into Availity Essentials to access the materials)
• By navigating to the materials within Availity Essentials:
  1. Log in to your account.
  2. Click Help & Training > Get Trained and search by keyword “BCBSM."

You can use the Crosswalk from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network to Availity Essentials help topic to learn where to find the tools you need, and which roles are needed to view these functions.

1. Log in to Availity Essentials.
2. Click Help & Training > Find Help > Payer spaces and payer tools > Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network > Crosswalk from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network to Availity Essentials. The crosswalk topics display to help you quickly locate the services and features you need to access. 
   
   Note: To view or print Availity Essentials help topics, you must be registered with Availity.

For questions about working with the Availity Essentials tools, contact Availity Client Services:
1-800-AVAILITY (282-4548) Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Availity is an independent company that contracts with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network to offer provider portal services.