MILLS RIVER, N.C. (PRWEB)
September 10, 2019

Healthcare organizations continue to ramp up efforts to enhance online security by reducing vulnerabilities associated with use of SSNs. In the spirit of strengthening security around patient data, CMS will be issue Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) on patient’s new Medicare cards. The shift to MBI is going to have tremendous impact on minimizing identity theft, that use of SSNs exposed beneficiaries to.

All healthcare providers, including physicians, therapists, counselors, and other mental health professionals who bill Medicare for insurance will be impacted by this. The transition period will end December 31, 2019 and MBIs must be used starting January 1, 2020. Until then, however, providers can continue to use their issued ID number or the MBI.

Prepare. Prepare. Prepare

Your systems and business processes should be ready to accept new MBI. All of the business transactions involving billing, claims and beneficiary eligibility statuses, or any other interactions with Medicare makes it mandatory to be able to accept MBIs by end of this year. Have your staff coordinate activities around this:

Step 1. Communicate with existing clients

a. For existing clients, it would be best to send out communication to update their MBIs in the system.

b. CMS has also launched a wide-scale communication to educate Medicare beneficiaries about this. Medicare and You Handbook has additional information on this.

c. Use the mailing schedule to anticipate when they will have a new card with the MBI to give you.

d. Beneficiaries can also log in to https://www.mymedicare.gov/ obtain information on their MBI

Step 2. During Client Intake:

a. Ask your client if they have been issued a new Medicare card yet?

b. Ask client for their new MBI on their new card

c. Help clients verify their address on file. If it does not match address on eligibility response, they won’t get a new card. In that case, they should contact Social Security Administration (SSA) to update their information.

Step 3. Update Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA):

a. Update Medicare beneficiary numbers in your systems, so you can receive the new MBIs automatically

b. MBI will also be returned on every ERA with claims submitted with a valid HCIN number

4. Final verdict on MBI : Will Your Claims be Rejected?

Per CMS’s MBI Information Bulletin dated July 23rd, 2019:

“Protect your patients’ identities by using the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) now. Starting January 1, 2020, you must use the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI). We will reject claims you submit with the Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN), with a few exceptions, and reject all eligibility transactions”.

Transitioning to MBIs will change how business is done in many ways. Providers should prep in advance avoid any shortfalls during this process.

Questions? Email us at marketing(at)therapyappointment(dot)com

References

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/New-Medicare-Card/

https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE18006.pdf

https://www.mymedicare.gov/

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