Submit a Claims Dispute or Appeal

HPSM network provider disputes

Providers have the right to dispute all claims that HPSM has denied, adjusted or potentially underpaid. (Exception- CA Contracted Authorization Denied [pre service]- Submit as an appeal and Non-Contracted CareAdvantage appeals – see below)

Claims Dispute Forms

Note: The PDR process should not be used to request retroactive authorization. Instead, retroactive authorization requests should be submitted directly to HPSM’s Health Services department.

Provider Dispute Resolution forms may be submitted by fax or mail:

  1. Fax: 650-829-2051
  2. Mail: Health Plan of San Mateo
    Attn: Provider Disputes
    801 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 100
    South San Francisco, California 94080

Non-Contracted CareAdvantage Provider Disputes/Appeals

CareAdvantage non-contracted appeals must be submitted within 65 calendar days from the date of receiving notification (Remittance Advice) of HPSM’s claim action. Providers must sign and submit a Waiver of Liability verifying that they relinquish the right to collect payment from the member in order for HPSM to process the dispute.

If a waiver is not submitted, HPSM is required to send the dispute to the Medicare-contracted Independent Review Entity (IRE), which will issue the final dispute decision.

Non-Contracted providers who want to submit an Appeal of a denied claim must submit the appeal and a Waiver of Liability to the Grievance and Appeals Department.

The following are examples of appeals:

  • Benefit/Frequency Limits Exhausted
  • Medical Necessity
  • Eligibility
  • Non-covered Service
  • Erroneous denial reason
  • Bundled Codes

CareAdvantage Provider Waiver of Liability

Note: For claims corrections, see Rebill, Update or Correct Claims

Appeals may be submitted by phone, fax or mail:

  • Phone:
    • CareAdvantage members: Call the CareAdvantage Unit at 1-866-880-0606 (toll-free) or 650-616-2174
    • Medi-Cal members, HealthWorx members and San Mateo County ACE participants: Call Member Services at 1-800-750-4776 (toll-free) or 650-616-2133
  • Fax: 650-829-2002
  • Mail: Health Plan of San Mateo
    Attn: Grievance and Appeals
    801 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 100
    South San Francisco, California 94080

Medi-Cal members, if your appeal is about a pharmacy or medicine issue, you will need to file it with Medi-Cal Rx directly.