Medicare has released a notice stating when NPI numbers must be included on claims. As of March 1, 2008 Medicare claims must include an NPI in the primary billing fields such as the Billing Provider data (Box 33) and the Rendering Provider data (box 24J). Medicare states that the provider may continue to submit NPI and Legacy ID numbers or just the NPI. Claims without NPI numbers in these fields will reject.

Provider’s may continue to submit Legacy identifiers without the NPI numbers in secondary fields until May 23rd, 2008.

After May 23rd, 2008, Medicare claims should include only NPI numbers for both primary and secondary fields.

For further information or updates regarding Medicare NPI compliance dates, visit the CMS web site at www.cms.hhs.gov

The start of the BCBS NPI Required phase has been changed to January 7, 2008. Continue to submit claims using dual identifiers (your BCBSIL provider number and your NPI). Claims submitted to BCBSIL without an NPI as of January 7, 2008, will be rejected. If you have any questions, contact Availity at 877.334.8446. www.availity.com

Effective immediately MI Medicaid is requiring that all electronic claims be submitted with an NPI number. Claims received after 12/20/07 without an NPI number will reject.

Ready to send claims to Availity? Migrating from THIN to Availity?

EZClaim has been an Availity software vendor since 2004 and has many customers successfully sending their electronic claims to Availity.

For additional information on using EZClaim Medical Billing software with Availity go to www.ezclaim.com and click on ‘Availity/THIN Information’. Information will include EZClaim pricing, User Guides, and links to the Availity web site.