Posted on Monday, December 9, 2019 1:43 PM
CMS put out a notice this week to remind providers to make sure they are using Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers with their patients. According to CMS, right now 86% of providers are using the MBIs.
On January 1, 2020, CMS will reject all claims and eligibility transactions if you do not use the MBI no matter the date of service.
Patients are being encouraged to carry their Medicare cards with them, as they no longer have their social security numbers on them. If your patient does not have their MBI, here is how your staff can obtain it:
- Ask your Medicare patients Ask your Medicare patients for their new Medicare cards when they come for care. If they didn’t get a new card, give them the Get Your New Medicare Card flyer in English or Spanish.
- Use your MAC’s secure MBI look-up tool You can look up MBIs for your Medicare patients when they don’t or can’t give them. Sign up for the Portal to use the tool. You can use this tool even after the end of the transition period – the tool doesn’t end on December 31, 2019. Even if your patients are in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can look up their MBIs to bill for things like indirect medical education.
Source: NAHC Report
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