Resources : Portal

Online Handbook

The Online Handbook gives providers access to all policy and billing information for Wisconsin Medicaid, BadgerCare Plus, ADAP, and WCDP. A secure ForwardHealth Portal account is not required to use the Online Handbook, as it is available to all Portal visitors.

Revisions to Online Handbook information are incorporated after policy changes have been issued in ForwardHealth Updates, typically on the policy effective date. The Online Handbook also links to the Communication Home page, which takes users to ForwardHealth Updates, user guides, and other communication pages.

The Online Handbook is designed to sort information based on user-entered criteria, such as program and provider type. It is organized into sections, chapters, and topics. Sections within each handbook may include the following:

• Claims
• Coordination of Benefits
• Covered and Noncovered Services
• Managed Care
• Member Information
• Prior Authorization
• Provider Enrollment and Ongoing Responsibilities
• Reimbursement
• Resources

Each section consists of separate chapters (for example, claims submission, procedure codes), which contain further detailed information in individual topics.

Search Function

The Online Handbook has a search function that allows providers to search for a specific word, phrase, or topic number within a user type, program, service area, or throughout the entire Online Handbook.

Providers can access the search function by following these steps:

1. Go to the Portal.
2. Click Online Handbooks under the Policy and Communication heading.
3. Complete the two drop-down selections at the left to narrow the search by program and service area, if applicable. This is not needed if searching the entire Online Handbook.
4. Enter the word, phrase, or topic number you would like to search.
5. Select Search within the options selected above or Search all handbooks, programs and service areas; or Search by Topic Number.
6. Click Search.

Saving Preferences

Providers can select Save Preferences when performing a search (by service area, section, chapter, topic number) and will receive confirmation that their preferences have been saved. This will save the program (for example, BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid) and service area (for example, Anesthesiologist) combinations that are selected from the drop-down menus. The next time the provider accesses the Online Handbook, they will be taken to their default preferences page. The provider can also click the Preferences Home link, which returns the provider to the saved area of the Online Handbook with their default preferences.

ForwardHealth Publications Archive Area

The Handbook Archives page allows providers to view previous versions of the Online Handbook. Providers can access the archive information area by following these steps:

1. Go to the Portal.
2. Click the Communication Home link under the Policy and Communication heading.
3. Click the Online Handbooks link on the left sidebar menu.
4. Click on the ForwardHealth Handbook Archives link at the bottom of the page.