Use MBIs to Avoid Medicare Payment Denials

The 21-month transition period from the old, Social Security Number (SSN)-based Medicare card numbers to the new Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs) is over. Please be sure that you are not left behind come Jan. 1, 2020. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that only 87 percent of Medicare claims are being filed using the new MBIs. With the start of the new year, most Medicare claims that use the SSN-based Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) will be rejected, regardless of the date of service. Please be sure to have MBIs on file for your residents and patients and discontinue using old Medicare beneficiary numbers. Information on obtaining MBIs is available here, while general information on the new Medicare cards is here.

Contact: Ken Allison, kallison@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8820