Bupa merge issues

The merger of MBF and MBF Alliances into Bupa necessitated some changes in Access Anaesthetics which were incorporated in version 5.76 in late June 2010. Since then we have found it necessary to change the way that the Bupa ID is handled.

The 'Bupa ID' is referred to as a 'Practice ID' by Bupa and is required on all accounts, batch headers and Eclipse claims.

Previously the Bupa ID was stored in a separate lookup table (Fund Practice ID) linked to the addresses list. This allowed storing a practice ID for all funds. A second lookup table (Fund Payee ID) was used to store the ID number which was required for Eclipse, and this was linked to each fund's Eclipse code. Since the ID is used only for Bupa, this system was deemed overly complicated and we decided to simplify it.

From version 5.9, the two lookup tables have been removed, and a single Bupa ID is recorded for each doctor. Because the Bupa ID is issued for each provider number, it is stored in the list of provider numbers, so that a separate ID can be matched to each provider number.

The Bupa Practice ID is now displayed in the Options form and can be edited in the provider number lookup table. For group practices, this lookup table is unique to the current doctor.

Click here for full details on the Bupa merger.

We expect there will be further changes to the Bupa system in November 2010, when all funds (HBA, MBF, Alliances) are likely to use a renamed fee schedule.

(To review the obsolete instructions, click here.)