Medical Billing Forum

Billing => Billing => : Midwife January 20, 2010, 12:09:52 AM

: PTAN Number
: Midwife January 20, 2010, 12:09:52 AM
I called Medicare to check a denial and was asked for the physician's PTAN Number. I have search for information and have found out that this is also the Medicare Legacy Number. I don't believe our physician has one of these. I looked at the Palmetto website and could not find much information - other than that we need one to check claims, etc.
Is this a number that is assigned when he applied for Medicare, or does it have to be applied for separately ?
FYI, our office has been billing Medical and Private Insurance for many years, but we are new to Medicare and are trying to figure it out.

Thank you
: Re: PTAN Number
: Pay_My_Claims January 20, 2010, 12:18:21 AM
PTAN= Provider Transaction Account Number....Look on the NPI website and if he has one, it should be there.  Is he a supplier???

http://www.medicarenhic.com/dme/articles/032009_npi.pdf

if he isn't a supplier, you care calling the wrong medicare number
: Re: PTAN Number
: Michele January 20, 2010, 10:09:56 AM
The PTAN would have been assigned when he enrolled in Medicare.  It would have been on the acceptance letter.  If you cannot find it, and it's not on NPI (which it may be, so as Charlene said, I would start there) the provider will have to request it in writing.  Medicare will not give it out over the phone.  Just write a short letter explaining the provider doesn't know his PTAN, and the provider will have to sign it.  They will send it in the mail.

Michele
: Re: PTAN Number
: Midwife January 20, 2010, 04:04:38 PM
Thanks, that gives me something go work with.