Reminder: CMS transitioning to new fraud-protected Medicare card

As you read in the September Record and the September/October BCN Provider News, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is taking steps to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards. This initiative will help CMS prevent fraud, fight identity theft and protect essential program funding, as well as the private health care and financial information of Medicare beneficiaries

CMS will issue new Medicare cards with a new unique, randomly assigned number called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier to replace the existing Social Security-based Health Insurance Claim Number — both on the cards and in various CMS systems.
Keep in mind that your systems will need to be able to accept the new MBI format by April 2018.

CMS will start mailing cards to people with Medicare benefits in April 2018. All Medicare cards will be replaced by April 2019.

Provider ombudsman announced
CMS recently announced the appointment of Dr. Eugene Freund as the provider ombudsman for the new Medicare card. He will:

• Serve as a CMS resource for the provider community
• Ensure that CMS hears and understands any implementation problems experienced by clinicians, hospitals, suppliers and other providers
• Communicate about the new Medicare card to providers
• Help develop solutions to any implementation problems that may arise

To reach the ombudsman, contact NMCProviderQuestions@cms.hhs.gov.

For more information
Visit the CMS.gov** or check out the September Record article.

**Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan doesn’t own or control this website.