Self-Service Pulse: What You Need To Know This Week
As your Medicare Administrative Contractor, National Government Services wants to provide you with a comprehensive source containing the most current information available for our self-service tools.
NGSMedicare.com
The New Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) Effective 1/1/2020, the new Medicare Number, commonly referred to as the MBI, will be required for all Medicare inquiries and transactions. If you would like to learn more about the MBI, we have a section of our website with all the information you need to comply with the CMS initiative. 1. Select “Claims & Appeals” then select “Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI).” Or 2. Click on the MBI scrolling banner on our home page. Or 3. Select “Learn About MBI” on our home page. Avoid your claims being rejected. Use the MBI today.
NGSConnex.com
Final Countdown for the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier Transition Period There are less than 30 days left until the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) transition period comes to an end. Effective, 1/1/2020 Medicare transactions can no longer contain Health Insurance Claim Numbers (HICNs). This includes transactions within the NGSConnex portal. Don't wait; MBIs can be used now. We encourage NGSConnex users to start using the MBI in all your portal transactions, including eligibility and claim status inquiries. Every person with Medicare has been assigned an MBI and beneficiaries can find this number on their new Medicare Card. If you are unable to obtain a copy of the beneficiary's new Medicare card, you can search for their MBI using the MBI Lookup Tool available in NGSConnex. Instructions for using the MBI Lookup Tool can be found in the NGSConnex User Guide:
MedicareUniversity.com
Printing Your Transcript
Do you need to show your manager the education you received for your end-of-year review? You can generate and print your Medicare University transcript. On the “My Courses” tab, click the “Transcript” tab, then click the “Print Report” button. Show your manager the quality education you have received from National Government Services.
Interactive Voice Response
Eligibility Submenus When you utilize the interactive voice response (IVR) system, you have the ability to access a Medicare beneficiary's eligibility information via submenus. These submenus allow you to choose the specific eligibility elements you want to hear. After the provider and beneficiary information is authenticated, you will hear the following upfront eligibility elements as applicable: • Entitlement dates • Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) status • Inactive dates • Corrected Medicare number • Date of death You can say "Repeat that" to hear the upfront eligibility elements again. You may then choose one of the submenu options to continue through the other eligibility elements as applicable. Part A Eligibility Submenu Options • Full Eligibility (Touchtone 1) • Basic Eligibility (Touchtone 2) • Hospital and SNF Billing (Touchtone 3) • Other Insurance (Touchtone 4) • ESRD (Touchtone 5) • Home Health and Hospice (Touchtone 6) • Special Services (Touchtone 7) Part B Eligibility Submenu Options • Full Eligibility (Touchtone 1) • Basic Eligibility (Touchtone 2) • Other Insurance (Touchtone 3) • ESRD (Touchtone 4) • Home Health and Hospice (Touchtone 5) • Special Services (Touchtone 6) After you select a submenu and listen to the elements available, you can say "Repeat that" to hear the specific submenu elements again. Or, you can say simply say another submenu option to listen to other elements. Refer to the IVR User Guide for all available features in the IVR: • Part A Provider Interactive Voice Response User Guide • Part B Provider Interactive Voice Response User Guide
YouTube
MBI Lookup Tool in NGSConnex If you are currently registered with NGSConnex, our free, secure internet portal you will be able to login and use the MBI Lookup Tool to obtain your patient's MBI, if CMS has mailed them their new Medicare card. Watch this three-minute video to learn how to use the MBI LookUp Tool in our secure self-service portal, NGSConnex.
Fun Fact National Cocoa Day A cold winter day is the perfect time to make yourself a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy National Cocoa Day. Each year on December 13, people across the country celebrate their favorite cold weather comfort drink. Hot cocoa is a warm beverage made with cocoa powder, heated milk or water and sugar. The terms hot chocolate and hot cocoa are often used interchangeably by Americans. To make hot chocolate, we use ground chocolate which contains cocoa butter. It’s mixed with hot milk and is also called drinking chocolate. Did You Know? Did you know you can search for a participating physician on our website by using the Medicare Participating Physicians Directory?
