AIM Specialty Health (AIM) is a specialty benefits management company that manages imaging services for Premera Blue Cross.
Pre-approval is based on member benefits and eligibility at the time of service. It prospectively determines medical necessity, treatment appropriateness and setting via nationally recognized guidelines.
Providers must make a pre-approval request for members on plans that require it.* The following services are subject to review:
- Computerized Tomography (CT)
- MRI/MRA
- Nuclear Cardiology
- ECHO (Washington only)
- Positive Emission Tomography (PET)
View the AIM CPT Code List to see which codes require review.
To request an order number, register with AIM and then submit your request online or by phone:
*Providers in Alaska are not subject to obtaining pre-approval for advanced imaging services, including PET Scans. Providers are encouraged to participate in advanced imaging management as a voluntary quality review.
Order Number Not Required for the Following:
- Emergency room services
- Inpatient hospitalization
- Outpatient surgeries (hospitals and freestanding surgery centers)
- 23-hour observations
Diagnostic imaging services providers are strongly encouraged to verify that the pre-approval has been received before scheduling and performing diagnostic imaging exams. In addition, imaging providers must submit ordering/referring provider information, per guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), in boxes 17 and 17b on CMS-1500 forms.
If you have questions, please call AIM at 866-666-0776.
AIM Resources for Providers
AIM Reference Info and Checklist
AIM Diagnostic Imaging Clinical Guidelines
AIM Clinical Information Checklist
AIM Order Entry Tip Sheet
AIM Specialty Health is an independent company providing advanced imaging services to Premera Blue Cross and Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska providers.