The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) requires CMS to remove Social Security Numbers (SSNs) from Medicare beneficiary ID cards and issue new cards with Medicare Beneficiary Identification (MBI) numbers.
CMS will start mailing the new Medicare Beneficiary ID cards with the new MBI numbers to participants beginning in April 2018. They are allowing an 18-month transition period that ends December 31, 2019. During the transition period, physicians and other providers may submit a Medicare claim using either the participant’s valid and active Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) or the new MBI number.
All Medicare claims submitted after January 1, 2020, will be required to use the new MBI number. Claims filed with the participant’s old HICN will be rejected, at that point.
MO HealthNet will also have a transition period from April 1, 2018 through December 31, 2019, in which we are able to accept either the old HICN or the new MBI number. Effective January 1, 2020, providers will only be able to submit claims using the new MBI number.