Medicare Forms:
Beware of Small Transcription Errors That Spell Denial on New 5010
Published on Sat Apr 24, 2010
Omitting "Jr." or "III" could trigger payment delays.You'll want to start double- and triple-checking your claim forms to ensure that the beneficiary's information is spot-on, or you'll face scores of denied claims once CMS starts requiring the new HIPAA 5010 forms.That's because CMS plans to deny claims filed on HIPAA 5010 forms (which will be the new Medicare universal claim form starting in 2012) on which the beneficiary's name doesn't perfectly match how it's listed on his Medicare I.D. card."Whenever there is a name suffix, such as 'Jr.' or 'Sr.' abbreviations, etc., it must be included with the last name," said Veronica Harshman of CMS's Division of Medicare Billing Procedures during an April 28 Open Door Forum regarding the eligibility component of the HIPAA 5010 form. You can include the suffix either with the patient's last name or in the suffix field, specified CMS's Chris Stahlecker during the call."The date [...]