Noridian Administrative Services has landed another big Medicare contract.

Noridian has been awarded the contract to handle Medicare Part A and Part B administration in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Noridian is affiliated with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

In July 2006, the company was awarded a similar contract for North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Arizona.

The contracts are with the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The agency says they're worth about $1.4 billion over five years.

Medicare Part A claims are submitted by health care providers, such as hospitals. Medicare Part B claims are submitted by doctors, laboratories and other practitioners.