Important Claim Updates for New York Providers

Highmark is changing the ways we receive electronic claims (837s) from providers and deliver claim payments/remittances (835s) for New York providers. Please carefully review the following information about these two important changes to ensure uninterrupted claim processing and payment.

1. Payment Remittances Moving to ECHO Health (Effective January 26, 2026)

Highmark is expanding its partnership with ECHO Health to manage provider payments and remittances for Western and Northeastern New York, in alignment with all other Highmark markets.

Beginning Jan. 26, 2026, payments will be delivered via ECHO Health's Claim Payments and Remittances (CPR) service.

Action Required:

• Ensure your system is ready: Verify that your vendor, clearinghouse, and/or practice management system is set up to receive 835s/ERAs from ECHO Health (Highmark Payer ID# 55204).

What to Expect:

If you already use ECHO Health:

• Highmark Inc. payments and EOPs will begin displaying in your ECHO portal after Jan. 26, 2026.
• ECHO may send a letter with instructions in November advising you of any additional steps needed regarding payment and/or ERAs.

• Your current EFT payment preference may be transferred to ECHO (unless you change your payment preference with ECHO).
• ECHO will send a letter with instructions in November advising you of any additional steps needed regarding payment and/or ERA integration.
• Once you have a draft number, register for an account on ECHO Health’s platform to search, view, and print your Explanation of Payments (EOPs) and download 835 files.

If you receive paper checks/ERAs from Highmark and do not have an ECHO account: 

• ECHO will send registration instructions and payment method options in November. You have the following payment elections:
  • Virtual Credit Card (VCC) Payments – default option if no action taken
  • Electronic Payments (EFT)
  • Medical Payment Exchange (MPX)
  • Paper Checks/Paper EOPs
• If no payment election is made by Jan. 12, 2026, you will receive payments as Virtual Credit Card (VCC), transaction fees apply and are based on your merchant-acquirer relationship.
• If a VCC is received, it does not obligate you to process the payment in this method. After an alternative payment election, an ECHO draft number can be used to reissue the payment using your new preferred payment method.

2. Transition from ASK Clearinghouse for Electronic Claim Submissions (837s)

As communicated in January 2025, Highmark requires New York providers to transition electronic claim submissions from the ASK clearinghouse to Highmark-EDI.

Action Required:

Complete the transition: If you are still submitting claims through ASK, initiate the change with your trading partner or IT department by September 2026. Failure to do so may disrupt your ability to file claims with Highmark electronically.

Summary of Key Dates:

• November 2025: Expect communications from ECHO Health regarding enrollment and payment options.
• January 12, 2026: Deadline to select alternative payment method with ECHO Health to avoid receiving payments via Virtual Credit Card.
• January 26, 2026: ECHO Health begins managing Highmark New York claim payments.
• September 2026: Deadline to transition from ASK clearinghouse to Highmark-EDI.

Please share this information with your billing and IT departments to ensure a smooth transition.