Misspelled name on Medicare card

[bumbleb]

Hi!  I am new here, and this is my first post. 

We got a new patient who has just signed up for Medicare.  I noticed that his first name is misspelled on his Medicare card (Louis not Luis), but spelled correctly on his secondary.  He told me I was the first person to notice this, and he is planning to get it corrected, so he doesn't have problems forever.

So, how do I file his insurance for his treatments (we are physical therapy).  Under the incorrect name that Medicare has, since that is what is on the record?  And would the secondary (AARP) pay without a problem?  Our billing company automatically forwards Medicare charges to the secondary for us.

This is a first for me.  Thank for any help!
Brenda

[PTBILLER]

Hi Brenda-

I would file the claims with the correct spelling.  I don't think it's ever a good idea to use nick names (Joe for Joseph, etc) or incorrect spellings.  If he calls and gets it changed right away, they will have it in their system correctly. 

[bumbleb]

Thanks!  I'll file it that way and see what happens

[Pay_My_Claims]

Medicare can kick out for name doesn't match. They do that for birthdates also. Even if you have the correct HICN, it has to match Medicare's record. Call them and ask them the correct way to file if you are unsure.

[lhough]

Same goes for Medicaid, if the spelling is wrong you still have to file with the incorrect spelling or it will be denied.  It has to be exactly as it is in their records.

[Michele]

I would ask the patient to get it fixed ASAP, but in the meantime I would file the claim with the correct spelling of the name.  Our Medicare doesn't require first names to be spelled exact to process (some do) so the claims would still be processed and you could forward on to the 2ndary.  If they deny, then you have already instructed the patient to fix the problem so hopefully it won't be much of a wait before you can resubmit, with the name still spelled correctly.

Michele

[Pay_My_Claims]

I have gotten this error before and it holds up claims. It is far better to file it to match what Medicare has than to correct and do otherwise. I would as Michelle stated have the client correct it, but it can and does create a denial on the claim.

https://www.noridianmedicare.com/provider/updates/docs/Correcting_Denials_due_Incorrect_Bene_Infoc_acro2.pdf

[Traice Robinson,CPMB]

Coming for experience on this topic you could bill Medicare all you want with the correct information on the claim, if the patient does not call in to Medicare to up dated there information they will reject it

[Pay_My_Claims]

Coming for experience on this topic you could bill Medicare all you want with the correct information on the claim, if the patient does not call in to Medicare to up dated there information they will reject it

Been there done that Tracie. It's even worse for NC Medicaid!! If it's not 100% identical to the card......denied!!! If the birthdate doesn't match....denied!!!

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