Reminder: Commercial Prior Authorization and Referral Approval Letters Will Be Available Digitally Rather Than Mailed, as of Sept. 8, 2026 

As a reminder, beginning Sept. 8, 2026, prior authorization and referral approval letters for commercial members will no longer be mailed through the U.S. Postal Service. Instead, you can now access these letters electronically through the Provider Correspondence Viewer available within our Payer Space in Availity® Essentials. 

The Provider Correspondence Viewer offers a secure, centralized location to view and download prior authorization and referral approval and denial letters for commercial members. For more details, refer to Provider Correspondence Viewer.

Important reminders

  • Prior authorization and referral denial letters will continue to be mailed via USPS and will also remain available electronically through Availity Essentials.
  • Prior authorization and referral decisions issued by third-party vendors will continue to be communicated through existing channels.

To opt out and continue receiving approval letters through USPS
To continue receiving approval letters through USPS, submit an opt-out request by emailing our Provider Education Consultants. Requests should include the following:

  • National Provider Identifier
  • Provider Tax ID
  • Provider name
  • Provider city, state and ZIP
  • Requester name

If you have questions about this change or for educational support, contact our Provider Education Consultants. Watch News and Updates for information about future enhancements. 

Always check eligibility and benefits through Availity Essentials or your preferred web vendor before rendering services. Reviewing eligibility and benefits before providing services can help ensure accurate processing and timely access to required authorization information.

Availity is a trademark of Availity, LLC, an independent company that operates a health information network to facilitate electronic information exchange for healthcare professionals. Availity provides administrative services to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma. BCBSOK does not endorse or warrant the products and services of third-party vendors.