CMS has completed its effort to mail Medicare cards with new Medicare beneficiary identifiers (MBIs), and it also trumpeted the high usage of those cards.
 
CMS completed all seven waves of its mailings, according to a Jan. 16 announcement.
 
“Medicare patients are using their new cards in doctor’s offices and other health care facilities,” CMS states. For the week ending Jan. 11, CMS says, fee-for-service health care providers submitted 58% of claims with MBIs — “showing that many of you are already successfully submitting claims with MBIs.”
 
CMS’ Social Security number removal initiative (SSNRI) was a drive to replace Medicare cards that have Social Security-based Health Insurance Claim Numbers (HICNs) on them with new cards that have MBIs by April 2019.
 
Beginning in 2020 there only will be a few exceptions for when providers will be allowed to use HICNs on claims.
 
Until Jan. 1, 2020, CMS will accept claims whether they include an MBI or an HICN.
 
If patients say they haven’t received a new card, CMS recommends providers offer the following instruction:
  • Look for unopened mail. CMS mailed new Medicare cards in a plain white envelope from the Department of Health and Human Services.
  • Sign on to MyMedicare.gov to get new numbers or print official cards. Patients who don’t already have an account will need to create on.
  • Call Medicare. Tell patients to dial (800) 633-4227 so CMS can help them get new cards. 
  • Continue using their existing cards to get care. Make clear to patients that they can use the old cards until Dec. 31, 2019.