Medicare Blog

how do providers submit railroad medicare claims

by Simone Nicolas V Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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You can either file electronic claims to Railroad Medicare through a clearinghouse or other third-party claims submitter, or you can submit paperless claims directly through Palmetto GBA's online provider portal eServices eClaims option.

Full Answer

Does railroad Medicare accept paper claims?

Send paper claims to: Palmetto GBA Railroad Medicare. P.O. Box 10066. Augusta, GA 30999-0001. File an eClaim: eServices users also have the ability to submit paperless eClaims through the portal. See section 4.6 of the eServices User Manual (PDF, 8.59 MB) for more information. eServices Claim Submission (eClaim) Tips.

Where do I get the forms to file Medicare claims?

The itemized bill must contain the following information:

  • Date of service
  • Place of service
  • The charge for each service
  • Description of your illness or injury
  • Description of the medical and surgical supplies
  • The name and address of the doctor or supplier
  • The doctor or supplier’s National Provider Identifier Number, if you know it.

How to check Medicare claims submitted?

  • Providers can enter data via the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone systems operated by the MACs.
  • Providers can submit claim status inquiries via the Medicare Administrative Contractors’ provider Internet-based portals.
  • Some providers can enter claim status queries via direct data entry screens.

More items...

Is my doctor required to file my Medicare claims?

You should only need to file a claim in very rare cases. Medicare claims must be filed no later than 12 months (or 1 full calendar year) after the date when the services were provided. If a claim isn't filed within this time limit, Medicare can't pay its share. For example, if you see your doctor on March 22, 2019, your doctor must file the Medicare claim for that visit no later than March 22, 2020.

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What is the EDI number for railroad Medicare?

The packet contains forms and explanations for each of the services offered by our Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) department. For further information regarding any of this material, please call the Railroad Medicare Provider Contact Center at 888-355-9165.

Does railroad Medicare have a provider portal?

Events. Palmetto GBA Railroad Medicare is pleased to offer eServices, our free Internet-based, provider self-service portal. The application provides information access over the Web for the following online services: Eligibility.

Does railroad Medicare follow Medicare guidelines?

Railroad retirement beneficiaries should instead contact an RRB office. Medicare offers voluntary insurance coverage for prescription drugs (Part D) through Medicare prescription drug plans and other health plan options....Search.toll free:1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)TTY/TDD:1-877-486-2048website:MEDICARE.govJan 14, 2022

Is there a difference between railroad Medicare and regular Medicare?

A: The only difference is that retired railroad beneficiaries have their Part B benefits administered by the Palmetto GBA Railroad Retirement Board Specialty Medicare Administrative Contractor (RRB SMAC) regardless of where they live. Members should be certain to advise providers of this when they receive treatment.

Who administers Railroad Medicare?

Palmetto GBA is contracted by the independent federal agency Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), which administers comprehensive retirement-survivor and unemployment-sickness benefit programs for railroad workers and their families under the Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts.

How do I get Railroad Medicare Ptan?

If you are already enrolled with your local Part B Medicare Administrative Contactor (MAC) and have a claim to submit for a Railroad Medicare patient, you will request a Railroad Medicare PTAN using the Railroad Medicare PTAN Lookup and Request Tool at www.palmettogba.com/RR/PTAN.

Can you submit paper claims to railroad Medicare?

If you meet an exception to mandatory electronic filing, you can submit your initial paper claim(s) to obtain a Railroad Medicare PTAN.

How do I check my railroad Medicare claims?

If you'd like to use the IVR, you can do so by calling 800–833–4455. From the main menu, press one (1) for claim status. You will need your Railroad Medicare number, date of birth, name, and date of service for the claim you are searching for. Claim status is available Monday thru Friday from 7 a.m. through 11 p.m. ET.

What does a railroad Medicare number look like?

Medicare Numbers have 11 characters and contain numbers and uppercase letters only. They do not contain the letters S, L, O, I, B or Z. Characters one, four, seven, 10 and 11 will always be a number. The second, fifth, eighth and ninth characters will always be a letter.

Does railroad Medicare require precertification?

Prior authorization may be required for Part B services provided to Railroad Medicare patients when the claim for the service will be billed to and processed by another Medicare Administrative Contractor.

Can I collect social security and railroad retirement?

If a railroad retirement annuitant is also awarded a social security benefit, the Social Security Administration determines the amount of the social security benefit due, but a combined monthly dual benefit payment should, in most cases, be issued by the RRB after the railroad retirement annuity has been reduced by the ...

What are railroad benefits?

The Railroad Retirement program was established in the 1930s. It provides retirement, survivor, unemployment, and sickness benefits to individuals who have spent a substantial portion of their career in railroad employment, as well as to these workers' families.

What is the enrollment period for Medicare?

Special Enrollment Period for People Covered Under a Group Health Plan#N#If you are age 65 or older and covered under a group health plan, either from your own or your spouse’s current employment, you have a special enrollment period in which to sign up for Medicare Part B. This means that you may delay enrolling in Medicare Part B without having to wait for a general enrollment period and paying the 10 percent premium surcharge for late enrollment. The special enrollment period rules allow you to: 1 enroll in Medicare Part B anytime while you are covered under the group health plan based on current employment; or 2 enroll in Medicare Part B during the 8-month period that begins the month after your group health coverage ends or employment ends, whichever comes first.

What is Medicare Part A?

Hospital Insurance ( Medicare Part A ), which helps pay for inpatient care in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (following a hospital stay), some home health care services, and hospice care.

How long do you have to be on Medicare to get free medical insurance?

If you are under age 65.-- Before age 65, you are eli­gible for free Medicare hospital insurance if you have been entitled to monthly benefits based on a total disability for at least 24 months and have a disability insured status under social security law. If you are entitled to monthly benefits based on an occupational disability, and have been granted a disability freeze, you are eligible for Medicare starting with the 30th month after the freeze date or, if later, the 25th month after you became entitled to monthly benefits. If you receive benefits due to occupational disability and have not been granted a disability freeze, you are generally eligible for Medicare hospital insurance at age 65. (The standards for a disability freeze determination follow social security law and are comparable to the medical criteria for granting total disability.) You are also eligible for Medicare if you have Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

What age does Medicare cover?

Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older, certain people with disabilities who are under age 65, and people of any age who have permanent kidney failure.

How much is Part B insurance for 2021?

The income-related Part B premiums for 2021 are $207.90, $297.00, $386.10, $475.20, or $504.90, depending on how much a beneficiary’s adjusted gross income exceeds $88,000 (or $176,000 for a married couple.

When does Medicare Part B become effective?

When does your enrollment in Part B become effec­tive? If you accept the automatic enrollment in Medicare Part B, or if you enroll in Medicare Part B during the first 3 months of your initial enrollment period , your medical insurance protection will start with the month you are first eligible. If you enroll during the last 4 months, your prote­ction will start from 1 to 3 months after you enroll.

What is the Social Security Administration responsible for?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is responsible for determining all income-related monthly adjustment amounts. To do this, SSA uses the most recent tax return information provided by the IRS. For 2021, in most cases that is the beneficiary’s 2019 tax return. If that is not available, SSA uses information from the 2018 tax return.

What is a PTAN for Medicare?

Before billing Railroad Medicare, you must be enrolled with and have a Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN) for your local Part B MAC. Because Railroad Medicare’s enrollment records will match what your local MAC has on file, please make sure your enrollment information is current with your MAC before requesting a Railroad Medicare PTAN.

Can you receive Medicare payments from railroad?

EFT allows a financial institution to deposit Railroad Medicare payments directly into a designated account. Once you have been established to receive funds EFT, you will no longer be eligible to receive your Railroad Medicare payments via paper checks.

What is an OJP provider?

An OJP is a provider that is not currently assigned to an A/B MAC in accordance with the geographic assignment rule and the qualified chain exception. For example, a hospital not part of a qualified chain located in Maine, but currently assigned to the A/B MAC in Jurisdiction F would be an OJP.

What is a qualified chain?

The Geographic Assignment Rule states that generally, a provider or supplier will be assigned to the MAC that covers the state where the provider or supplier is located. However, it does provide an exception for qualified chains.

What is the 911 B rule?

Section 911 (b) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), Public Law 108-173, repealed the provider nomination provisions formerly found in Section 1816 of the Title XVIII of the Social Security Act and replaced it with the Geographic Assignment Rule.

Does CMS have a timetable for moving OJPs?

CMS has not set a timetable for moving OJP’s. return to top.

Who administers A/B and HH+H claims?

All A/B and HH+H providers will be assigned to the MAC contracted by CMS to administer A/B and HH+H claims for the geographic locale in which the provider is physically located. Learn more about the current A/B MAC jurisdictions and HH+H areas and view the corresponding maps at Who are the MACs.

How to file a medical claim?

Follow the instructions for the type of claim you're filing (listed above under "How do I file a claim?"). Generally, you’ll need to submit these items: 1 The completed claim form (Patient Request for Medical Payment form (CMS-1490S) [PDF, 52KB]) 2 The itemized bill from your doctor, supplier, or other health care provider 3 A letter explaining in detail your reason for submitting the claim, like your provider or supplier isn’t able to file the claim, your provider or supplier refuses to file the claim, and/or your provider or supplier isn’t enrolled in Medicare 4 Any supporting documents related to your claim

What to call if you don't file a Medicare claim?

If they don't file a claim, call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) . TTY: 1-877-486-2048. Ask for the exact time limit for filing a Medicare claim for the service or supply you got. If it's close to the end of the time limit and your doctor or supplier still hasn't filed the claim, you should file the claim.

What is an itemized bill?

The itemized bill from your doctor, supplier, or other health care provider. A letter explaining in detail your reason for submitting the claim, like your provider or supplier isn’t able to file the claim, your provider or supplier refuses to file the claim, and/or your provider or supplier isn’t enrolled in Medicare.

How long does it take for Medicare to pay?

Medicare claims must be filed no later than 12 months (or 1 full calendar year) after the date when the services were provided. If a claim isn't filed within this time limit, Medicare can't pay its share. For example, if you see your doctor on March 22, 2019, your doctor must file the Medicare claim for that visit no later than March 22, 2020.

What happens after you pay a deductible?

After you pay a deductible, Medicare pays its share of the Medicare-approved amount, and you pay your share (coinsurance and deductibles). , the law requires doctors and suppliers to file Medicare. claim. A request for payment that you submit to Medicare or other health insurance when you get items and services that you think are covered.

When do you have to file Medicare claim for 2020?

For example, if you see your doctor on March 22, 2019, your doctor must file the Medicare claim for that visit no later than March 22, 2020. Check the "Medicare Summary Notice" (MSN) you get in the mail every 3 months, or log into your secure Medicare account to make sure claims are being filed in a timely way.

What is the form called for medical payment?

Fill out the claim form, called the Patient Request for Medical Payment form (CMS-1490S) [PDF, 52KB). You can also fill out the CMS-1490S claim form in Spanish.

What is BCRC in Medicare?

The Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center (BCRC) consolidates the activities that support the collection, management, and reporting of other insurance coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. The purpose of the COB program is to identify the health benefits available to a Medicare beneficiary and to coordinate the payment process to prevent mistaken Medicare payment. The BCRC does not process claims or claim-specific inquiries. The Medicare Administrative Contractors, (MACs), intermediaries, and carriers are responsible for processing claims submitted for primary or secondary payment and resolving situations where a provider receives a mistaken payment of Medicare benefits.

What information do you need to release a private health insurance beneficiary?

Prior to releasing any Private Health Information about a beneficiary, you will need the beneficiary's last name and first initial, date of birth, Medicare Number, and gender. If you are unable to provide the correct information, the BCRC cannot release any beneficiary specific information.

What is a coba?

The Coordination of Benefits Agreement (COBA) Program establishes a nationally standard contract between CMS and other health insurance organizations that defines the criteria for transmitting enrollee eligibility data and Medicare adjudicated claim data. CMS has provided a COBA Trading Partners customer service contact list as an avenue for providers to contact the trading partners. The COBA Trading Partners document in the Download section below provides a list of automatic crossover trading partners in production, their identification number, and customer contact name and number. For additional information, click the COBA Trading Partners link.

When does Medicare use the term "secondary payer"?

Medicare generally uses the term Medicare Secondary Payer or "MSP" when the Medicare program is not responsible for paying a claim first. The BCRC uses a variety of methods and programs to identify situations in which Medicare beneficiaries have other health insurance that is primary to Medicare.

Can BCRC provide beneficiary entitlement data?

Information regarding beneficiary entitlement data. Current regulations do not allow the BCRC to provide entitlement data to the provider. Insurer information. The BCRC is permitted to state whether Medicare is primary or secondary, but cannot provide the name of the other insurer.

Does BCRC release beneficiary information?

You will be advised that the beneficiary's information is protected under the Privacy Act, and the BCRC will not release the information. The BCRC will only provide answers to general COB or MSP questions. For more information on the BCRC, click the Coordination of Benefits link.

Does BCRC process claims?

The BCRC does not process claims or claim-specific inquiries. The Medicare Administrative Contractors, (MACs), intermediaries, and carriers are responsible for processing claims submitted for primary or secondary payment and resolving situations where a provider receives a mistaken payment of Medicare benefits.

Documentation

Some services require a Certificate of Medical Necessity, a durable medical equipment information form, a prescription or other documentation with the first-month supply claim, a first-month rental equipment claim, or a claim for a one-time equipment purchase. We will deny claims that require, but do not include, appropriate documentation.

Unique billing requirements

In order to submit Medicare Plus Blue PPO claims, you must complete a provider authorization and register your national provider identifier with us. Use Medicare B DMERC as the source of payment when completing the provider authorization.

More information about submitting claims

Submit claims within one calendar year of the date of service or we cannot pay for the service.

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When Do I Need to File A Claim?

  • You should only need to file a claim in very rare cases
    Medicare claims must be filed no later than 12 months (or 1 full calendar year) after the date when the services were provided. If a claim isn't filed within this time limit, Medicare can't pay its share. For example, if you see your doctor on March 22, 2019, your doctor must file the Medicar…
  • If your claims aren't being filed in a timely way:
    1. Contact your doctor or supplier, and ask them to file a claim. 2. If they don't file a claim, call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY: 1-877-486-2048. Ask for the exact time limit for filing a Medicare claim for the service or supply you got. If it's close to the end of the time limit and yo…
See more on medicare.gov

How Do I File A Claim?

  • Fill out the claim form, called the Patient Request for Medical Payment form (CMS-1490S) [PDF, 52KB). You can also fill out the CMS-1490S claim form in Spanish.
See more on medicare.gov

What Do I Submit with The Claim?

  • Follow the instructions for the type of claim you're filing (listed above under "How do I file a claim?"). Generally, you’ll need to submit these items: 1. The completed claim form (Patient Request for Medical Payment form (CMS-1490S) [PDF, 52KB]) 2. The itemized bill from your doctor, supplier, or other health care provider 3. A letter explaining ...
See more on medicare.gov

Where Do I Send The Claim?

  • The address for where to send your claim can be found in 2 places: 1. On the second page of the instructions for the type of claim you’re filing (listed above under "How do I file a claim?"). 2. On your "Medicare Summary Notice" (MSN). You can also log into your Medicare accountto sign up to get your MSNs electronically and view or download them anytime. You need to fill out an "Author…
See more on medicare.gov

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