The IHSC Provider Support Call Center is available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday (excluding federal holidays). Please contact us at 1-844-922-IHSC (1-844-922-4472).
[*NOTE AI-generated or automated calls are not permitted; a live caller must be present for assistance.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - IHSC DHS
Acentra Health is currently under contract with IHSC to develop and implement claim processing services that includes a provider portal. Information regarding future claims processing operations reflects current planning assumptions and remains subject to final government contract determinations and ICE Health Service Corps’ (IHSC) direction.
Providers and vendors can enroll in automated clearing house (ACH)/direct deposit through the IHSC Provider Portal when provider enrollment and revalidation become available.
All payments will be issued through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) once enrollment is completed.
For more information about the Veterans Affairs Financial Services Center (VA-FSC) ACH or EFT vendorization process, please visit the IHSC Managed Care web page, or contact VA-FSC customer service at (800) 479-0523, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT.
Once the new system is operational, IHSC will identify EFT failures and route them through established resolution processes. We will provide additional operational guidance before implementation.
For VA-FSC EFT-related failures or concerns, contact VA-FSC customer service at (800) 479-0523, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT.
Yes, a new, secure, web-based IHSC Provider Portal will be available and offer the following services:
- Access to payment and remittance information.
- Provider information updates and revalidation.
- Claim status inquiry.
- Direct claims entry.
- Submission of attachments and adjustments.
- Enrollment and vendor registration.
- Electronic funds transfer enrollment.
- Access to provider training and resources.
Providers who are already registered and vendorized with the VA-FSC will receive an email before the estimated go-live date for the new IHSC Provider Portal. The email will include registration instructions, and providers will need to verify their information.
Providers who are not currently registered or vendorized with VA-FSC, including new providers, may begin enrollment and registration through the IHSC Provider Portal on the go-live date.
Please visit the IHSC Managed Care web page for announced start dates.
Yes. IHSC and Acentra Health will provide training materials, user guides, and implementation support before system go-live. IHSC will post training information on the IHSC website as it becomes available.
Yes, the IHSC Provider Support Call Center is now available between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. The call center provides assistance with claims, EFT/EDI enrollment, appeals, and payments. You can reach the IHSC Provider Support Call Center at 1-844-922-IHSC (1-844-922-4472).
For VA-FSC-related concerns, contact VA-FSC customer service support at (800) 479-0523, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT.
IHSC will open provider enrollment and revalidation through the IHSC Provider Portal on the go-live date.
Please monitor this website and the IHSC Managed Care web page for date announcements. We encourage providers to complete enrollment before claims submission functionality becomes available.
IHSC will communicate when claims submission through the new IHSC Provider Portal becomes available. Once you enroll in the new IHSC Provider Portal and claim submission are live, you may submit claims for dates of service ending on or after Oct. 1, 2025.
Since May 8, 2026, VA-FSC has provided interim claims processing on behalf of ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for dates of service from Oct. 1, 2022, through
Sept. 30, 2025 (FY 2023 through FY 2025). For VA-FSC filing instructions, please visit the IHSC Managed Care web page.
VA-FSC’s interim service for IHSC will end Sept. 30, 2026. Please monitor this website for date announcements.
Once your IHSC Provider Portal enrollment is completed and claim processing is live, providers may submit claims through the new IHSC Provider Portal for service dates ending on or after Oct. 1, 2025, using the following methods:
- Electronic data interchange. Providers may submit claims electronically through their clearinghouse.
- Direct data entry. Enrolled providers may enter claims directly through the new IHSC Provider Portal.
As of May 8, 2026, VA-FSC has been providing interim claims processing on behalf of ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for dates of service from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2025 (FY 2023 through FY 2025). For VA-FSC filing instructions, please visit the IHSC Managed Care web page.
VA-FSC’s interim service for IHSC will end on or before Sept. 30, 2026. Please monitor this website for date announcements.
The EDI payor ID for DHS/ICE electronic medical and dental claims is changing.
Providers previously used the VA Financial Services Center (VA-FSC) payor ID VAICE. With the new Acentra Health claims processing services for DHS/ICE, providers must use the new payor ID, DIHSC.
The new payor ID is DIHSC.
This change in payor ID will take effect after the VA-FSC ends claims processing on or before Sept. 30, 2026. Please monitor this website and the IHSC Managed Care web page for date announcements.
Use payor ID VAICE only for claims processed by VA-FSC. This change in payor ID will take effect after the VA-FSC ends claims processing on or before Sept. 30, 2026. Please monitor this website and the IHSC Managed Care web page for date announcements.
Providers will use the new payor ID, DIHSC, for EDI submissions processed by Acentra Health, once services are live.
Yes. EDI submissions will continue.
The PnT Clearinghouse will continue to accept EDI submissions while data transfers from the VA-FSC system to the new Acentra Health system for go-live processing.
Acentra Health has partnered with PnT (Post-n-Track Data) as its EDI clearinghouse and trading partner. PnT maintains connectivity with multiple national and regional clearinghouses and billing vendors. These vendors include the following:
- Ability Network
- AdvancedMD
- Apero Health Inc.
- Apex Edi, Inc
- AthenaHealth
- CareCloud, Inc.
- Change Healthcare Solutions
- Claim.MD
- ClaimLogic, LLC
- Computers Solutions and Consultant, Inc.
- Eligible Inc
- InstaMed
- Lincare
- nThrive, Inc.
- Office Ally Inc.
- Optum
- Practice Insight, LLC
- Quadax Inc.
- Rycan Technologies
- SmartData
- Stedi
- The SSI Group
- Trizetto
- VVC Holdings Corporation
- Zotec Partners LLC
Dental providers may submit claims electronically through supported clearinghouses, including Change Healthcare and SmartData. Providers who are unable to connect through a supported clearinghouse may submit claims directly through the provider portal using the direct data entry (DDE) functionality. Claims cannot be uploaded as PDF files and must be entered directly into the provider portal.
IHSC does not accept paper claims. The new IHSC system is fully electronic to help ensure higher claims acceptance rates and faster responses.
All claims must be submitted electronically through either:
- EDI
- The IHSC Provider Portal direct data entry (DDE)
Yes. Once the IHSC Provider Portal is live, providers may submit attachments through the IHSC Provider Portal.
Attachments may be uploaded:
- During Direct Data Entry claim submission; or
- After submission of an EDI claim using the provider portal.
Providers can access explanation of payment (EOP) information electronically through the IHSC Provider Portal as remittance advice (RA).
Providers who submit claims through electronic data interchange will receive an 835 response. An 835 response tells a provider how a payer processed a claim, including payment amounts, adjustments, denials, and related explanation codes.
Yes. VA-FSC can process claims on behalf of ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for dates of service from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2025 (FY 2023 through FY 2025).
Providers must submit all claims electronically. The VA-FSC electronic provider portal does not accept claim submissions, and VA-FSC no longer accepts paper claims or physical mail.
For submission details, please visit the IHSC Managed Care website or call the VA-FSC customer service line at 1-800-479-0523.
Authorized clean claims are generally processed within 30 days from the date received. Continue to check the IHSC Provider Portal for claim status updates.
For questions about claims filed with VA-FSC, contact VA-FSC customer service at 1-800-479-0523.
Providers must resubmit unpaid or denied claims electronically. VA-FSC can process claims on behalf of ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for service dates from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2025 (FY 2023 through FY 2025).
VA-FSC no longer accepts paper claims or physical mail.
For submission details, please visit the IHSC Managed Care website or call the VA-FSC customer service line at 1-800-479-0523.
Yes. VA-FSC can process interim claims on behalf of ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for dates of service from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2025 (FY 2023 through FY 2025). For VA-FSC filing instructions, please visit the IHSC Managed Care website.
VA-FSC’s interim service for IHSC will end on or before Sept. 30, 2026. Please monitor this website for date announcements.
Acentra Health will process FY 2026 claims with service dates ending on or after Oct. 1, 2025, once the system is live.
For the most current updates, we encourage you to visit:
For VA-FSC customer support, call 800-479-0523 Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT. VA-FSC staff answer calls during these hours.
Under Title 18, Part III, Chapter 301, Section 40006 of the U.S. Code, IHSC will pay the billed amount, up to the amount Medicare would pay for similar healthcare items and services under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act. IHSC will adjudicate claims using IHSC business rules.
The system will use configurable business rules to identify and manage duplicate claims during adjudication.
Yes. Once the IHSC Provider Portal is live, providers can submit adjustments and corrected claims through the provider portal or electronic data interchange. IHSC will provide instructions before the system is launched.
For VA-FSC filing instructions, please visit the IHSC Managed Care web page.
Yes. Providers can submit EDI claims using 837 electronic claim transactions. IHSC will provide new instructions before the go-live date.
Yes. Providers can access EOPs electronically through the IHSC Provider Portal as remittance advice (RA).
For VA-FSC claim submission concerns, contact VA-FSC customer service at 1-800-479-0523, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT.
IHSC will import prior and existing referral authorization data into the new system before the system launch date.
Yes. The system will import referral authorization data and match claims to authorizations during adjudication.
If you have the authorization number and are enrolled, you can submit your claim for review and adjudication.
If you do not have the authorization number, email your request to the referral coordinator or field medical coordinator who normally issues your referral authorizations.
If you do not have a referral authorization point of contact, email IHSC at IHSC_HPMU_info@ice.dhs.gov.
IHSC will provide instructions for the appeals process before the system launch date.
For concerns about claims submitted through VA-FSC, call the VA-FSC customer support line at 800-479-0523, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT.
Yes. The system meets HIPAA and DHS/ICE security standards.
The system administrator will follow DHS and ICE incident response requirements, report the breach, and address any issues within required timelines.
No. To protect the privacy and security of sensitive information, IHSC and Acentra Health only provide assistance to live individuals. Calls initiated solely by AI agents, virtual assistants, automated calling services, or other automated systems are not permitted and may be declined or disconnected until a live person joins the call.