
The Social Security Number Fraud Prevention Act of 2017 prohibits the Federal Government from mailing any documents with complete social security numbers. To comply with the law, Medicare contractors will begin masking Health Insurance Claim Numbers (HICNs) on remittances starting July 1, 2019.
After the changes, the first five digits of the SSN are masked with x’s (e.g. xxxxx7777A). Alpha prefixes and suffixes remain visible along with the last four numerical digits of the SSN. MBIs are not masked as they do not contain SSNs.
MiraVista does not expect this change to disrupt payment posting protocols. Suppliers most often use the beneficiary name or account number to identify the insured. Nonetheless, suppliers should convey this change to payment posters and billing associates who work with remittances.
SOURCE LINKS
https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM11112.pdf
https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/2019Downloads/R2245OTN.pdf
After the changes, the first five digits of the SSN are masked with x’s (e.g. xxxxx7777A). Alpha prefixes and suffixes remain visible along with the last four numerical digits of the SSN. MBIs are not masked as they do not contain SSNs.
MiraVista does not expect this change to disrupt payment posting protocols. Suppliers most often use the beneficiary name or account number to identify the insured. Nonetheless, suppliers should convey this change to payment posters and billing associates who work with remittances.
SOURCE LINKS
https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM11112.pdf
https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/2019Downloads/R2245OTN.pdf