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Advanced VSP Features
Choosing Whether to Issue a VSP Authorization

Choosing Whether to Issue a VSP Authorization

When verifying VSP patient benefits in SpexFetch, you have full control over whether to issue an authorization or simply check eligibility — both for single patient searches and bulk verifications. This is done by toggling the “Issue Authorization” option on or off during the search process.

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🔎 Option 1: Eligibility Check Only

Authorization Toggle OFF
If you choose not to issue an authorization:
  • You'll still receive valuable data such as:
    • Eligibility status for services and materials
    • The next eligible date for those benefits
    • Confirmation of whether the patient is currently active
  • If no results are found, this may indicate:
    • The patient does not have VSP benefits
    • The patient’s plan is with another carrier
    • A name misspelling, incorrect DOB, or missing/invalid ID number
💡 This is ideal when you're in a discovery phase and just want to check if the patient is eligible before committing to pulling an authorization.

✅ Option 2: Issue a VSP Authorization

Toggle ON
If you enable the authorization toggle during your search:
  • You’ll receive:
    • Active benefit status
    • Confirmation of benefits for services and materials
    • A unique authorization number
  • If the patient has multiple plans, such as:
    • Signature Plan
    • Essential Medical Plan
    • Second Pair Plan
    • Computer Vision Plan
        • ➤ All relevant authorizations will be retrieved at once.

🔁 Managing Existing Authorizations at Your Practice

If there’s an existing authorization already pulled at your practice location:
  • SpexFetch will prompt you with options:
    • Keep the existing authorization
    • Delete and re-issue a new one
🔄 Re-issuing gives you the most up-to-date benefit details and extends the expiration date.

⚠️ When an Authorization Exists at Another Practice

If you attempt to issue an authorization and the patient already has an open authorization held by another practice:
  • SpexFetch will still confirm that the patient is Active with VSP
  • It will display:
    • The exam
    • The authorized services and materials
  • However, you will not be able to:
    • Delete it
    • Replace it
    • Modify it in any way
🛑 Because the authorization is owned by a different provider, it’s locked to them.
📞 Next step: You will need to contact VSP directly and request they release the authorization. Once released, you can run the search again in SpexFetch and issue a new one.
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