REMINDER: Medicare Beneficiary Identifier Must be Submitted on Claims

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began mailing new Medicare Identification (ID) cards in April 2018. The new ID cards for Medicare beneficiaries replaced the formerly utilized social security numbers-based Health Insurance Claim Number (HCIN) with the new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) number.

This is a reminder that Dec. 31, 2019 is the last date that claims may be submitted using the old HCINs. Effective Jan. 1, 2020, regardless of date of service, all claims must be submitted using the new MBI.

CMS has published several helpful handouts for providers and their staff. We encourage you to discuss this change with all staff to ensure you are ready for this change in January.

Please review the new Medicare card guidance and the new Medicare card for Providers and Office Managers articles as well as the mlnconnects as soon as possible.