Medicare and Other Insurance
Medicare is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and is the federal health insurance program for people 65 years old and older and certain people with disabilities.
Other insurance, or third party liability (TPL), refers to health, long-term care or dental insurance coverage an MHCP member may have through private or public funds.
MHCP considers Medicare and TPL primary to MHCP coverage. Verify eligibility through MN–ITS to ensure MHCP and Medicare or other insurance coverage. Providers must bill and receive payment from primary coverage to the fullest extent possible before billing MHCP.
Assignment and Request for Direct Payment
Members are responsible to give providers updated TPL information, Medicare information and assignment of benefits. Providers are responsible to obtain assignment of benefits from the member or responsible party.
Request direct payment to you when:
The provider must indicate on the insurance claim that the person is receiving benefits through MHCP.
Authorization Requests and Medicare or TPL Coverage
Review information about authorization requests when a member has Medicare or TPL.
Medicare
Medicare is primary to MHCP. Services covered by Medicare must be provided by a Medicare-enrolled provider and billed to Medicare first. Bill any balance after Medicare payment to other TPL payers. If the total amount received from Medicare and other TPL payers is less than the MHCP allowable, submit a claim for the difference to MHCP for payment of the coinsurance and deductible with appropriate amounts indicated.
In both cases, complete the MN–ITS Interactive Field Completion Guide (PDF) with all of the adjustments and remarks codes indicated on your Medicare explanation of medical benefits (EOMB) information. A claim with charge and adjustments that is out of balance will suspend for review and are considered complex claims that may take up to 90 days to process.
Submit claims for services that are never covered by Medicare directly to MHCP. You do not need a denial from Medicare.
Medicare B Crossover Claim Payment
The Basic Care Service rate reductions do not apply to service lines allowed (covered) by Medicare. Service lines denied by Medicare where MHCP is the sole payer are subject to the basis care rate reductions.
MHCP payment is the difference between the Medicare payment and the MHCP calculated allowable where the difference is greater than zero. If the difference is less than or equal to zero, the MHCP payment will be zero.
Calculation Example:
Line | Procedure Code | Charge | MHCP Calculated Allowable | Medicare Allowed Rate | Medicare Payment | Medicare Coinsurance or Deductible | MHCP Calculation |
1. | 98941 | $49.00 | $21.77 | $34.79 | $15.30 | $19.49 | $21.77 - $15.30 = $6.47 payment |
Line 1: Our allowable in this example, after any add-ons or cutbacks is $21.77. Because this line has $19.49 coinsurance, MHCP will pay the difference between the Medicare payment and the MHCP calculated allowable. MHCP pays the MHCP Calculated Allowable of $21.77 minus the Medicare payment $15.30, which equals $6.47. MHCP no longer pays the $19.49 Medicare determined coinsurance.
Members who are dually eligible (Medicare and Medicaid), may receive a service that is covered by Medicare but that is considered “not covered” by Medicaid. In this situation, MHCP will process the 837P claim and may reimburse the copay and deductible amounts only. This payment is considered payment in full to the provider regardless of the presence of a signed ABN; therefore, no additional payment can be requested from the member.
Medicare Opt-out Option
Providers may choose to opt-out of Medicare (not enroll as a Medicare provider). However, MHCP will not pay for services covered by, but not billed to, Medicare because the provider has chosen not to enroll in Medicare.
Medicare Replacement (Advantage or Risk Plans)
Many companies have Medicare advantage plans, Part C policies, or supplement policies. Providers must verify whether or not a policy is one of these plans. If it is, enter the claim as any other Medicare claim, using Claim Filing Indicator 16. If using MN–ITS Direct Data Entry (DDE) to submit your claim, refer to the MN–ITS Interactive Field Completion Guide (PDF) for instructions on which fields must be completed.
Third Party Liability (TPL)
A health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) is considered a group health plan and must be treated as third party liability (TPL). Members must use funds in the HRA to pay their medical expenses before MHCP pays claims.
TPL coverage, including Veterans benefits, private accident insurance and other health care coverage held by or on behalf of an MHCP member, is primary to MHCP.
Health saving accounts (HSA) are considered the member’s personal funds and are not treated as third party liability. An HSA is secondary to MHCP.
Flexible spending accounts (FSA) are not treated as third party liability (TPL).
Follow specific plan coverage rules and policies. A member with more than one level of private benefits must receive care at the highest level available. MHCP will not pay for services that could have been covered by the TPL payer if the applicable rules of that plan had been followed.
If a member fails to complete forms and cooperate in the TPL billing process, contact the worker at the County and Tribal Nation offices or a MinnesotaCare representative to request help.
Bill TPL payers and receive payment to the fullest extent possible before billing MHCP.
Subrogation
MHCP receives notice that a FFS member has other insurance after a provider has billed and received payment from MHCP. MHCP has the right to subrogate the payment by billing the private accident or health care coverage and be reimbursed for MHCP funds that were paid on behalf of a member for medical services to an enrolled MHCP provider.
After the private accident or health care coverage reimburses MHCP, the payment responsibility is satisfied. Providers must accept the amount paid by MHCP as payment in full and must not bill the other health insurer or member for any additional payment. This includes attempting to replace or void claims with MHCP and then bill the other insurance.
The amount of the MHCP payment substitutes for the TPL payment amount, even if the TPL payment would have been higher.
Unsuccessful TPL Billing
Providers may bill MHCP after three unsuccessful attempts have been made to collect from the TPL payer, except when the TPL payer has already made payment to the recipient. Attach a copy or screen print of the first claim sent to the TPL payer, documentation of two further billing attempts, and any written communication you received from the TPL payer to the MHCP claim. Do not bill MHCP earlier than 90 days after the initial attempt. Each additional attempt to bill must be 30 days after the previous attempt. Bill MHCP correctly within 12 months of the date of service to be considered for payment.
Do not bill MHCP earlier than 100 days after the initial attempt if the unsuccessful billing attempt is for a member that has TPL coverage derived from a parent whose obligation to pay child support is being enforced by DHS.
Billing MHCP with TPL
Bill MHCP only if the TPL payer indicates a patient responsibility. MHCP will not pay if the TPL does not attribute charges to patient responsibility or non-covered service.
Use only HIPAA-compliant codes to indicate reduction, coinsurance, copay, etc. If the codes you receive from the TPL carrier are not HIPAA-compliant, refer to the HIPAA Code Lists on the WPC website.
MHCP does not accept an AUC Electronic Claim Attachment for TPL explanation of benefits (EOB). Provide the TPL adjustment and payment information within the claim transaction.
Submit TPL adjustment information at the header or claim level or the service or line level on the claim. Do not submit adjustment information at both levels. If you submit TPL adjustment information at the header or claim level, MHCP will prorate all paid lines on the claim, which may result in lower payment.
Billing TPL at Header or Claim Level
The following claim transactions and provider types must submit TPL information at the header or claim level using MN–ITS or Batch submission to receive appropriate reimbursement:
Adjustments entered at the Claim level are prorated across all service lines.
Refer to the appropriate MN–ITS User Guide for complete instructions on reporting header or claim level information on the Coordination of Benefits (COB) screen.
Billing TPL at Service or Line Level
TPL information may be entered at the service or line level, (except for the providers listed in the Billing TPL at Header or Claim Level section above).
Submit TPL information at the line level to report adjustments specific to each line:
Refer to the appropriate MN–ITS User Guide for complete instructions on reporting service or line level information on the Services screen, Other Payer section.
Submit line-level TPL information for batch claims (except for the provider types listed in the Billing TPL at Header or Claim Level section) to report adjustments specific to each line.
Billing Different Procedure Codes to MHCP
When the TPL payer requires the use of a different procedure code than MHCP accepts for the service provided:
Out-of-Balance TPL or Medicare Claims
For a claim to balance, the TPL or Medicare payment and adjustment code amounts must equal the U&C:
(TPL/Medicare payment amount) + (adjustment codes and amounts) = U&C
If you do not report all adjustment codes and amounts on the claim or line level to balance the claim or line, MHCP may suspend the claim for up to 90 days or deny the claim or line.
MHCP uses HIPAA-compliant claims adjustment reason code 129 and remittance advice reason code M04.
Billing TPL or Medicare Noncovered Services
Document any services not covered by Medicare or TPL. Keep documentation (such as a denial, information from policy manual, detailed phone contact information) in the member’s file verifying a service is not Medicare or TPL covered. Although a denial is not required for each claim for noncovered services, providers must document the service’s non-coverage on the MHCP claim:
Bill services that are never covered by Medicare directly to MHCP without Medicare COB information. Refer to the MHCP Provider Manual sections listed in the table of contents of the MHCP Provider Manual – Home webpage for more information about billing.
Cost Avoidance Requirements
MHCP pursues recovery of benefits when an accident settlement or contested Workers' Compensation benefits are pending, or when legal action may be required.
Providers are not required to bill TPL payers for the following services:
The following government health programs are not considered TPL payers for the purpose of cost avoidance requirements:
Report Health Insurance Effective and Termination Dates
Notify DHS of health insurance terminations and denials for people not covered by the policy. Send a copy of the termination notice or denial, or document on your office letterhead all of the following information:
Fax (preferred): | 651-431-7431 |
Mail: | DHS Benefit Recovery Section |
Request for Statement
If a member requests a billing statement, the statement must clearly state that it is not a bill and payment has been made or could be made by MHCP. Providers must report the request in writing to the Benefit Recovery Section.
Provider Prohibitions Related to TPL
Providers must not:
Liability Not Established or Benefits Not Payable
When probable liability is not established, or benefits are not available at the time a claim is submitted, MHCP will pay the maximum allowable except when Medicare has denied payment on the basis of secondary payer. The provider must accept MHCP payment as payment in full and must not continue to seek payment from TPL payers with pending liability. If MHCP learns of the existence of a TPL, or benefits become available, MHCP may recover payment directly from the TPL payer.
Legal References
Minnesota Statutes, 62A.045 Payments on Behalf of Enrollees in Government Health Programs
Minnesota Statutes, 256B.37 Private Insurance Policies, Causes of Action
Minnesota Rules, 9505.0070 Third Party Liability
Minnesota Rules, 9505.0071 Assignment of Rights
Minnesota Rules, 9505.0440 Medicare Billing Required
Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 405.410 and Balanced Budget Act of 1997 Sec. 4507 Conditions for properly opting-out of Medicare
42 USC 1396a(a)(25)(F): Services Provided to CSE Beneficiaries
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