Medicare Blog

what is unrestricted medicare provider number

by Prof. Alba Hegmann MD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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What is a Medicare provider number and who needs one?

A Medicare provider number is a unique number you can get if you’re an eligible health professional recognised for Medicare services. You need a provider number to claim, bill, refer or request Medicare services.

Do you need more than one prescriber number?

You’ll need more than 1 prescriber number if you provide services in multiple health professions. Health professionals can apply for an initial Medicare provider number or PBS prescriber number using a form. Medical interns who trained in Australia or New Zealand may be able apply online for a Medicare provider number and PBS prescriber number.

How do I get a Medicaid provider number?

You can obtain a Medicaid provider number by applying online or in person at a regional office of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. What Is a Medicaid Provider Number? Whether you're a physician or you have your own clinic, you want to provide patients with the best possible rates.

How do I enroll in Medicare Provider Services?

Look up Medicare provider services enrollment on the official website, contact a representative or visit a regional office of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 2. If you wish to apply online, access the CMS.gov website. Check the Medicare enrollment resources for providers and then head over to the PECOS section 2.

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Do I need a Medicare provider number?

A Medicare provider number is a unique number you can get if you're an eligible health professional recognised for Medicare services. You need a provider number to claim, bill, refer or request Medicare services.

How do I find a doctors Provider Number Australia?

Providers are generally registered with either Medicare or the ARHG (Australian Regional Health Group). On your invoice, you'll find the Provider Number near the provider's name and address. It'll generally be a mix of letters and numbers and can be up to eight digits long.

How do you find a moratorium?

Doctors are able to view their moratorium scaling by logging into their PRODA account, and selecting 'My details'. You will then need to select 'My provider numbers' and then 'Track and Scale'. You will be given the option to choose 'Track and Scale – Scaling details'.

What is the 10 year moratorium Australia?

The 10-year moratorium From the time of medical registration in Australia, all overseas trained doctors and foreign graduates of an accredited medical school must work for at least 10 years in a: Distribution Priority Area (DPA) if you're a general practitioner (GP)

What is a doctor's provider number?

A doctor's provider number is issued by Medicare and helps identify the doctor and the location that they are providing services at. These provider numbers are comprised of: Provider Stem = a 6-digit number. 1 Practice Location Character (PLV)

What is a provider ID number?

​​​Provider Identification Number The Provider Identification Number (PIN) is the additional validation of an enrolled provider's identity that is used when a provider conducts business transactions with the Medi-Cal program and the fiscal intermediary, Xerox State Healthcare, LLC (Xerox).

What do you mean moratorium?

A moratorium is a temporary suspension of activity until future events warrant lifting of the suspension or related issues have been resolved. Moratoriums are often enacted in response to temporary financial hardships.

What is an official moratorium?

A moratorium is a temporary suspension of an activity or law until future consideration warrants lifting the suspension, such as if and when the issues that led to moratorium have been resolved. A moratorium may be imposed by a government, by regulators, or by a business.

What is a 12 month moratorium?

A moratorium period, which is similar to forbearance or deferment, is when your lender allows you to stop making payments for a specific period of time and a specific reason. Usually, the reason involves some kind of financial hardship.

What is 19aa exemption?

There are no exemptions to 19aa. You are required to be on a 3GA program. There is one 3GA program for GPs who can meet the criteria (Special Approved Placements Program) which is for GPs who can demonstrate extenuating circumstances.

What is 3GA program?

3GA Programs provide training to doctors seeking vocational recognition by offering a range of incentives to doctors, such as access to a Medicare Provider Number (MPN) and access to the higher Medicare rebate items. Section 3GA programs include vocational training, vocational recognition and other training programs.

Is Ahpra number same as provider number?

Healthcare Provider Identifier-Individual (HPI-I) - for healthcare providers. This number is allocated by Medicare and is different from the national registration number issued by AHPRA.

How do you check if a doctor is registered in Australia?

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) works with the Medical Board of Australia to implement the NRAS. You can search their national register to see whether a doctor is registered.

What is an Ahpra registration number?

Definition: A unique sequence of characters assigned to a health practitioner to indicate registration to practice in Australia. This number is assigned by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Do provider numbers expire?

It is important to be aware that under some circumstances Medicare provider numbers may expire without any reminder notices. This expiry will depend on the eligibility to provide services, and whether there are any restrictions associated with the initial provider number.

What is MLN CMS?

The Medicare Learning Network (MLN) is a CMS initiative to ensure Medicare physicians, providers and supplies have immediate access to Medicare coverage and reimbursement rules in a brief, accurate, and easy to understand format. To access MLN Matters articles, click on the MLN Matters link.

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.

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.

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.

Can a Medicare claim be terminated?

Medicare claims paying offices can terminate records on the CWF when the provider has received information that MSP no longer applies (e.g., cessation of employment, exhaustion of benefits). Termination requests should be directed to your Medicare claims payment office.

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.

What is an unrestricted medical license?

Unrestricted Medical License. Physicians must have a license to practice medicine in all states. An unrestricted license means the physician is allowed to do anything she is trained and competent to do that is in her scope of practice. However, some physicians have a restricted license that limits their practice.

Why do doctors have a restricted license?

A restricted license is typically issued because the physician has a health problem or is being disciplined for professional misconduct, among other reasons.

Can a doctor practice medicine with a restricted license?

In some cases, a physician may be allowed to practice medicine with a restricted license. For example, a doctor who has been convicted of substance abuse may be able to practice as long as she completes a diversion program and submits to regular monitoring, which may include drug testing.

Medicare provider number applications

Most Medicare provider number applications are taking up to 22 calendar days to process from the date we get your application. Some applications may take longer if they need to be assessed by the Department of Health.

About Medicare provider numbers

A Medicare provider number is a unique number you can get if you’re an eligible health professional recognised for Medicare services. You need a provider number to claim, bill, refer or request Medicare services.

Phone

For specific billing questions and questions about your claims, medical records, or expenses, log into your secure Medicare account, or call us at 1-800-MEDICARE.

1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)

For specific billing questions and questions about your claims, medical records, or expenses, log into your secure Medicare account, or call us at 1-800-MEDICARE.

What is the phone number for medicaid?

For example, if you have general questions about the program, you may call 800-633-4227, the Medicaid phone number. Another option is to access CMS.gov, select Contacts Database and search for a Medicaid office for a Medicaid customer service representative in your area.

How many regional offices are there for Medicare?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has 10 regional offices in different cities and states 2. Atlanta, Chicago and New York are just a few to mention. If you want to enroll in the Medicare provider services program in person, go to the nearest regional office.

Can a group practice fill out a Medicare application?

Clinics, group practices, physicians and other health care providers can fill out the Medicare enroll ment application online . This will allow them to provide services to Medicaid beneficiaries, submit fee-for-service claims and more 2. Once their application is approved, they receive a Medicaid provider number that serves as a unique identifier.

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Coordination of Benefits Overview

  • 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 ...
See more on cms.gov

Information Gathering

  • 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. For example, information submitted on a medical claim or from other sour…
See more on cms.gov

Provider Requests and Questions Regarding Claims Payment

  • MACs, intermediaries, and carriers will continue to process claims submitted for primary or secondary payment. Claims processing is not a function of the BCRC. Questions concerning how to bill for payment (e.g., value codes, occurrence codes) should continue to be directed to your local Medicare claims paying office. In addition, continue to return inappropriate Medicare paym…
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Medicare Secondary Payer Records in CMS's Database

  • The BCRC is the sole authority to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the MSP information contained in CMS's database (i.e., Common Working File (CWF)). Information received because of MSP data gathering and investigation is stored on the CWF. MSP data may be updated, as necessary, based on additional information received from external parties (e.g., beneficiaries, pr…
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Termination and Deletion of MSP Records in CMS's Database

  • Medicare claims paying offices can terminate records on the CWF when the provider has received information that MSP no longer applies (e.g., cessation of employment, exhaustion of benefits). Termination requests should be directed to your Medicare claims payment office. MSP records that you have identified as invalid are reported to the BCRC for investigation and deletion.
See more on cms.gov

Contacting The BCRC

  • The BCRC’s trained staff will help you with your COB questions. Whether you need a question answered or assistance completing a questionnaire, the Customer Service Representatives are available to provide you with quality service. Click the Contactslink for BCRC contact information. In order to better serve you, please have the following information available when you call: 1. Yo…
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Contacting The Medicare Claims Office

  • Contact your local Medicare Claims Office to: 1. Answer your questions regarding Medicare claim or service denials and adjustments. 2. Answer your questions concerning how to bill for payment. 3. Process claims for primary or secondary payment. 4. Accept the return of inappropriate Medicare payment.
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Coba Trading Partner Contact Information

  • 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 t…
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mln Matters Articles - Provider Education

  • The Medicare Learning Network (MLN) is a CMS initiative to ensure Medicare physicians, providers and supplies have immediate access to Medicare coverage and reimbursement rules in a brief, accurate, and easy to understand format. To access MLN Matters articles, click on the MLN Matterslink.
See more on cms.gov

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