Indian Health Service provider portal, phone and payer ID quick facts
| Provider portal | https://www.ihs.gov/businessoffice/ |
|---|---|
| Provider phone | 1-301-443-1083 |
| Claims payer ID | SX155 |
| Eligibility payer ID | SX155 |
| ERA payer ID | SX155 |
| Timely filing | 365 days |
| Prior auth route | Provider portal or policy document |
| Last reviewed | 2026-04-23 |
Indian Health Service at a glance
| Legal name | Indian Health Service |
|---|---|
| Also known as | IHS, Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) |
| Category | Government program |
| Parent organization | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
| Claims payer ID | SX155 |
| Eligibility (270/271) payer ID | SX155 |
| ERA (835) payer ID | SX155 |
| NAIC company code | Not published |
| States covered | Nationwide (50 states) |
| Members covered | ~2.6 million members |
| Provider portal | https://www.ihs.gov/businessoffice/ |
| Provider phone | 1-301-443-1083 |
Always verify claims-routing details against the member ID card and the payer's current EDI companion guide before submission.
Timely filing & appeals for Indian Health Service
Indian Health Service's standard timely filing window for participating providers is 365 days from the date of service. Plan-specific products (Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, employer groups, secondary claims) may have shorter or longer windows — always confirm against the policy linked below before disputing a TFL denial.
| Submission type | Window |
|---|---|
| In-network initial claim | 365 days |
| Out-of-network initial claim | 365 days (verify per plan) |
| Secondary / coordination of benefits | 365 days from primary EOB |
| Corrected / appeal | 180 days from denial |
Appeal levels
- Level 1: First-Level ReconsiderationFile within 180 days
Written request for claim reconsideration with supporting documentation, filed within the stated window of the denial notification.
- Level 2: Second-Level Formal AppealFile within 60 days
Formal appeal reviewed by a party not involved in the initial determination; typically requires the first-level decision letter.
- Level 3: External / Independent ReviewFile within 120 days
External Independent Review Organization (IRO) review per ACA §2719 and applicable state law.
Source: Indian Health Service provider policy. Always confirm before disputing a TFL denial — payer policies are versioned and product-specific.
Prior authorization with Indian Health Service
Indian Health Service does not currently accept X12 278 prior-authorization transactions; submit via portal or fax. The procedures most commonly subject to prior authorization include advanced imaging, inpatient admissions, specialty pharmacy, and certain outpatient surgical procedures. Use the payer's authorization tool below to confirm requirements per CPT before scheduling a service.
Indian Health Service maintains a live prior-authorization code lookup tool that supersedes any cached list. Use the provider portal or the policy documents below to confirm the current PA list before rendering a service.
Top denial reasons for Indian Health Service
Per-payer denial benchmarks publish here once the QuickIntell anonymized ETL pipeline ingests sufficient Indian Health Service volume. Until then, see the broader CARC reference for industry-wide remediation guides.
Electronic claims, eligibility & ERA
| Transaction | Supported | Payer ID |
|---|---|---|
| 837P / 837I claims | Yes | SX155 |
| 270 / 271 eligibility | Yes | SX155 |
| 278 prior authorization | No | SX155 |
| 835 ERA | Yes | SX155 |
Payer IDs vary by clearinghouse — confirm against your clearinghouse payer list (Availity, Change Healthcare/Optum, Waystar) before configuring submitter routing.
QuickIntell coverage for Indian Health Service
Frequently asked questions about Indian Health Service
Where is the Indian Health Service provider portal?
The Indian Health Service provider portal is available at https://www.ihs.gov/businessoffice/. Use it for eligibility checks, claim status, prior authorization workflows, appeals, and payer-specific routing updates. QuickIntell links to the payer's provider-facing portal as a reference and is not the official payer portal.
What is the timely filing limit for Indian Health Service?
Indian Health Service's standard timely filing limit for participating providers is 365 days from the date of service. Plan-specific products (Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, employer groups) may have different windows — confirm against the payer's provider manual before disputing a TFL denial.
What is the Indian Health Service payer ID?
The primary claims payer ID for Indian Health Service is SX155. Eligibility (270/271) uses SX155 and ERA (835) uses SX155. Always verify against the member ID card and your clearinghouse payer list before submitting.
Does Indian Health Service accept electronic claims?
Yes — Indian Health Service accepts ANSI X12 837P and 837I electronic claims through standard clearinghouses. Real-time eligibility (270/271) is supported and X12 278 prior authorization is not currently supported.
How do I appeal a Indian Health Service denial?
Indian Health Service uses a 3-level appeal process. Level 1 (First-Level Reconsideration) must be filed within 180 days of the denial. Each escalation level requires the prior decision letter and supporting clinical or coding documentation. See the appeal-levels block above for deadlines and process.
How long do Indian Health Service prior authorization approvals take?
Indian Health Service's prior-authorization decision turnaround typically follows standard industry windows: 72 hours for urgent requests and up to 14 calendar days for non-urgent requests. Specialty drugs and high-cost imaging may extend further. Submit through the Indian Health Service provider portal for the fastest turnaround.
What is the Indian Health Service provider phone number?
Providers can reach Indian Health Service at 1-301-443-1083 for claims status, eligibility verification, and authorization questions. Have the member ID, date of service, and tax ID ready before calling. Most operational tasks are faster through the provider portal at https://www.ihs.gov/businessoffice/.
Run cleaner claims to Indian Health Service with QuickIntell
QuickAuth, QuickRCM, and QuickERA are validated against Indian Health Service's EDI behavior — eligibility, prior auth, claim scrubbing, and ERA posting all run on real payer rules.
Disclaimer
This page is operational reference for medical-billing professionals. It is not legal, clinical, or contractual advice. Payer policies change without notice — always verify against Indian Health Service's current published documents before submission. CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.