Keep these specifics in mind while transitioning your practice to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid's (CMS) new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) numbers and cards. April 2018 – April 2019: CMS mail new cards April 2018: Medicare beneficiaries can look up their MBI through the Medicare patient portal NGSConnex April 2018 – December 2019: The transition period during which providers can use either HICN or MBI in claims, processing, and eligibility transactions June 2018: Providers can look up beneficiaries' MBI in NGSConnex October 2018: Remittance Advice (RAs) will display both the HICN and MBI when a valid HICN is submitted on a processed claim January 2020: MBI will be in full effect, the Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) will no longer be allowed on claims received on/after Jan. 1, 2020. There may be exceptions for appeals, claims status queries, span-date claims (Medicare Part A only), Home Health Request for Anticipated Payments (Part A only, HICN no longer allowed for entitlement queries)