CommercialPrior AuthMedium impact
Authorizing an extension to an Inpatient Stay (Concurrent Review)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming·WY · PM&R (Physical Medicine & Rehab), Pain Management, Sports Medicine +2 more·Prior Authorization
Effective date
Jan 1, 2021
We identified it
Jun 19, 2026
Summary
BCBS Wyoming now allows inpatient stay extension requests through the Availity portal for authorizations originally submitted via portal. Additionally, dry needling services must use specific CPT codes 20560 or 20561 instead of NOS/NOC codes to prevent entire claim denials.
Action Required
Immediately: Billing team must stop using NOS/NOC codes for dry needling services and use only CPT codes 20560 or 20561. Update billing system rules to prevent NOS/NOC code selection for dry needling. Train staff to request inpatient extensions through Availity portal when original authorization was portal-submitted, ensuring From/To dates and day counts are updated. Failure to use correct dry needling codes will result in entire claim denial.