Claims
Some of our members are covered by both Martin's Point US Family Health Plan and Medicare.
Please note that the US Family Health Plan is primary to Medicare (with very few exceptions) and claims should not be submitted to Medicare for services covered by US Family Health Care.
Martin's Point Health Care utilizes HIPAA standard code sets for claims processing. Requirements for US Family Health Plan and Generations Advantage are generally consistent with industry practices. Claims for services rendered must be submitted to Martin's Point Health Care consistent with contractual obligations. Claims may be filed electronically (preferred) or on paper, using a CMS-1500 Form or UB-04 Form, as appropriate.
The following information is required for processing:
- Patient's full name: Must be spelled correctly, as it appears on the patient's ID card.
- Patient's Plan ID number including two-digit suffix: Subscriber/Insured ID numbers end in "00" and dependent ID numbers end in , "01,02, 03, etc." according to the number of dependents. Samples of our health plan ID cards are shown below.
- Patient's date of birth and gender: Must be completed for claim processing
- Insured's/subscriber's full name: Must be spelled correctly, as it appears on the patient's ID card.
- Insured's/subscriber's ID number including two-digit suffix: Subscriber/Insured ID numbers end in "00"
- Insured's/subscriber's date of birth and gender: Must be completed for claim processing
- Date of service
- Place of service
- Service provider's name and address
- Service provider's federal tax identification number (TIN)
- Industry standard diagnosis codes (ICD-10)
- Industry standard procedure codes (CPT/HCPCS)
- Charge information and units
All mandatory fields must be complete and accurate. Missing or incomplete information will result in claim returns.
We want to pay your claims as quickly as possible. Please help us do so by filling out your claim forms carefully. Claim form errors can significantly delay processing.
Common Errors
Here are some common CMS-1500 Claim Form errors that we see, and tips on how to avoid these errors and get your claims paid more quickly:
1. It is very important for Provider NPI and Billing Provider NPI information to be properly presented.
- Box 24J – This is the NPI number of the individual provider rendering the service (i.e., the Type 1 NPI of the specific physician rendering the service). Enter the rendering provider NPI number in the field to the immediate right of the letters “NPI.” Not in the blank spaces above or below.
- Box 33A – This is the NPI of the billing entity named in Box 33 (i.e., the Type 2 NPI assigned at a group level to the practice). Type 2 NPI numbers are also known as "organizational" NPI numbers. In most instances, the number in Box 33A should not be the same as the number in Box 24J.
2. Service location information in Box 32A is also key to efficient claim processing, particularly if your practice delivers services at multiple locations. Please be sure to include the location where the service being claimed was rendered.
3. Please be sure to:
- Include your tax ID
- Double check the ICD or diagnosis code to make sure it contains the correct digits.
- Enter time, not units, when submitting claims for anesthesia services.
- Make sure the member's ID number is correct. Sample ID cards are available here.
4. Box 17 – Referrals: When a member has been Referred by their PCP or another specialist, please complete box 17 with the Referring provider’s name and NPI.
When a member has not been Referred, this is considered a self-referral; please complete box 17 with the Rendering provider’s name and NPI.
Claims can be filed electronically or via mail.
Electronic Claims Submission
Electronic claim submission allows for quicker processing and payments. We offer three Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) options. Contact them directly to register for electronic claim submission to Martin's Point.
Paper Claims Submission
Paper claims should be mailed to:
When submitting a claim for a patient who is also the subscriber:
Data should be submitted in Loop 2010BA (subscriber) only using the following fields:
- Patient Last Name - 2010BA NM103
- Patient First Name - 2010BA NM104
- Patient ID # (code qualifier of "MI") - 2010BA NM108
- Patient ID # - 2010BA NM109
- Patient Date of Birth - 2010BA DMG02
- Patient Gender - 2010BA DMG03
When submitting a claim for a patient who is a dependent of the subscriber:
Data should be submitted in Loop 2010BA (subscriber) and Loop 2010CA (patient) using the following fields:
- Subscriber Last Name - 2010BA NM103
- Subscriber First Name - 2010BA NM104
- Subscriber ID # (code qualifier of "MI") - 2010BA NM108
- Patient ID # - 2010BA NM109
- Subscriber Date of Birth - 2010BA DMG02
- Subscriber Gender - 2010BA DMG03
- Patient Last Name - 2010CA NM103
- Patient First Name - 2010CA NM104
- Patient Date of Birth - 2010CA DMG02
- Patient Gender - 2010CA DMG03
The EDI partners listed above will work with you to set up Electronic Remittance Advices (835 files). Please contact them directly to request Martin's Point 835 files.
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) services are available to providers who have signed up to receive Martin's Point 835 files.
After you have received your first 835 file, please contact Provider Inquiry at 1-888-732-7364. If changes are made to your Bank Account (e.g., financial institution or a new account number), another form must be submitted.
Managing EFT Transfers
To initiate, terminate, or change bank information for Electronic Fund Transfers, you must fill out and submit the Electronic Fund Transfer form. To obtain the form, send an email to [email protected] requesting the form be sent to you.
Be sure to include your bank routing and account number, all required signatures, and all required fields on the form to expedite the EFT set-up process. You also need to attach a copy of a voided check and/or a bank letter.
Once the EFT form has been completed, please return the form and voided check/bank letter via email to [email protected] or FAX to 207-828-7870.
Information and instructions for electronic and paper requests for claims adjustment, correction, replacement, and voiding.
Submitting Claim Requests
Claim Submission Instructions
Claim adjustment requests may be submitted only after the original claim has been paid or denied. Both participating and non-participating providers must file requests for claim adjustment within 120 days from the remittance date.
Electronic submission is strongly encouraged and in most cases, no form is required. For example, if you want to change or add a code, billing amount, unit count, or modifier, simply submit another claim with the corrected information and the Martin’s Point claim number from the claim that is being adjusted or corrected.
If your adjustment request pertains to one of the following situations, please complete and submit our Provider Dispute Resolution Form along with any supporting documentation.
- Code Review: Supporting clinical documentation is required.
- Contract Terms: You believe the claim was not paid in accordance with negotiated terms.
- Coordination of Benefits: The original claim could not be processed completely until information from another insurer was received.
- Duplicate Claim: The original denial was due to a duplicate claim submission.
- Filing Limit: The original claim was denied for untimely filing.
- Request for Additional Information: The original claim was denied due to missing or incomplete information.
- Retraction of Payment: You are requesting a retraction of an ENTIRE payment (e.g., wrong provider paid, incorrect provider information, patient not on provider panel, service not performed, etc.).
When submitting an adjusted claim, include all lines from the original claim that are still correct, not just the new or corrected lines. The adjusted claim will replace the original claim in its entirety. All payments on the original claim will be reversed and only those lines included on the adjusted claim will be reviewed for payment.
Additional Important Claim Information
Additional important information regarding claims can be found here:
If we return a claim to you that does not include a Martin’s Point claim identification number, this means that the claim could not be adjudicated and therefore, was not entered into our claim system. If you wish to resubmit a returned claim, do not submit a corrected claim or a Provider Dispute Resolution Form.
Please submit an entirely new claim and do not use the words “Corrected,” “Replacement,” or “Adjusted” anywhere on the claim.
Authorization-Related Claim Denials - Please see the Retrospective Authorization instructions.
If you wish to correct or dispute a claim that was denied for lack of authorization, do not submit a corrected claim or a Provider Dispute Resolution Form.
- For US Family Health Plan: please submit your authorization request using the online Authorization Request.
- For Generations Advantage: Participating providers must submit an Authorization Dispute Form if your situation meets the criteria for retrospective review.
Non-participating providers: must initiate the claim appeal process on behalf of the member. See Grievances and Appeals. We cannot begin the appeal process without a Medicare Appointment of Representative Form. Determinations are made within 60 calendar days of receipt of request.
Please also make sure the patient control number on your adjustment request also matches the original claim. We understand that some practice management systems may automatically assign a new patient control number each time you create a claim. However, our system will automatically pend your claim adjustment request if the patient control number does not match the original claim.
This will cause processing delays.
When submitting multi-page claims to Martin’s Point, please do not enter a total sum on each page of the claim. Always leave that field blank except for on the last page of the claim. The total charge on the last page of a multi-page claim should reflect the total of all claim lines on all pages within that single claim.
This applies to both HCFA/CMS-1500 and UB-04 claims. This rule also applies when you want us to correct, adjust, replace or void a multi-page claim.
Please do not submit your request as split claims. Your original, multi-page claim was submitted and processed as a single claim, with a single claim number. Accordingly, any adjustment requests regarding that claim number must be submitted as a single, multi-page claim, with a total only on the last page of the claim.
Again, the total charge on the last page of a multi-page claim should reflect the total of all claim lines on all pages within that single claim.
Participating providers must submit service claims within 120 calendar days of the date of each service. Non-participating providers have 365 calendar days from the date of service to file a claim for that service. Additionally, requests for claims adjustments (from both participating and non-participating providers) must be submitted within 120 calendar days from the original date of claim payment or denial.
Claim filing limits are determined by participating agreement. Unless otherwise contracted:
- Per participating agreement
- Members may not be billed for services submitted after the claim filing date
- All claims for Coordination of Benefits (COB) or Motor Vehicle Accidents must be submitted within 120 days of receipt of the primary payer's payment or denial of claim. A copy of the primary insurer's Explanation of Payment must accompany claim.
Martin’s Point Health Care follows correct coding and billing criteria for our US Family Health Plan and Generations Advantage programs.
What kind of claims are affected?
The claim editing rules apply to both institutional and professional claims (UB-04 and CMS-1500) for services rendered to US Family Health plan and Generations Advantage members. LCD rules will apply only to Generations Advantage claims for services rendered in Maine and New Hampshire.
What is an LCD?
Under certain circumstances, Medicare fiscal intermediaries and carriers have the discretion to cover a particular service (i.e., determination that a service is reasonable and necessary). These coverage policies are issued in a document called a Local Coverage Determination (formerly, the Local Medical Review Policy). Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) provide guidance that assists providers in submitting correct claims for payment. LCDs also outline how the contractor will review claims to ensure that the services provided meet Medicare coverage requirements. What are the LCD rules? Where can I learn more about them?
LCD rules can be found on the local carrier’s website or by contacting them directly. Following are the local carriers for Maine and New Hampshire:
Medicare Parts A & B: National Government Services, Inc.
https://www.ngsmedicare.com/NGS_LandingPage/
For more information about Medicare coding and billing criteria, please visit www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/NationalCorrectCodInitEd
Coordination of benefits between the TRICARE, the US Family Health Plan (a TRICARE option), and Medicare.
Age-Eligible Medicare Members
Upon aging in to Medicare eligibility, these members are required to obtain Medicare A and B. These members do not pay an enrollment fee, and their medical service copayments are waived.
Members with Medicare have waived their rights to access care through Medicare with the exception of TRICARE non-covered benefits. Medicare is not considered secondary to the US Family Health Plan for coordination of benefits purposes and is generally not to be billed for US Family Health Plan members. Providers may bill Medicare for services rendered that are not covered by TRICARE.
TRICARE® Non-Covered Benefits
Members who are enrolled with the US Family Health Plan and have Medicare A and B, providers should only bill Medicare for TRICARE non-covered benefits (for example chiropractic care).
ESRD Medicare Members
Members under the age of 65 and qualifying for Medicare disability coverage, Medicare becomes primary the first day of the fourth month of the member's dialysis treatments. Members over the age of 65 with Medicare A and B receiving maintenance dialysis, Medicare becomes primary at that point. Providers should bill Medicare for services provided to a member who received Medicare benefits based upon a diagnosis of ESRD. The US Family Health Plan should be billed secondary.
US Family Health Plan and Commercial Health Plans and Medicaid
The US Family Health Plan is primary to the Medicaid program and secondary to all commercial health insurance plans such as Aetna, CIGNA, or Anthem. Federally sponsored health plans (e.g., Federal Blue Cross and Mail Handlers) are employee benefits and are primary to the US Family Health Plan. When these plans become Medicare supplements, the US Family Health Plan becomes primary as Medicare cannot be billed for non-ESRD US Family Health Plan members.
Subrogation and Third Party Liability
Providers are required to bill MPHC for all services furnished to a member, regardless of whether there is a third party involved. When a potential "third party liability" situation arises, the claim must indicate this in the appropriate section of the CMS-1500 or UB04 claim form. Upon receipt, Martin's Point Health Care will investigate to determine potential liability and the impact upon payment. Please do not bill the member or the member's attorney directly in such cases, even if requested by either.
Bill Requests
Should the member and/or attorney request a bill, direct him or her to our Provider Inquiry Department at 1-888-732-7364.
The US Family Health Plan Point-of-Service payment policy applies to most services rendered to our members by non-contracted (out-of-network) providers. Generally, US Family Health Plan members will pay a larger cost share for services rendered by an out-of-network provider than they would for the same services rendered by an in-network provider.
The exceptions to this policy are the following health care services which are paid at the in-network level and are not subject to Point of Service deductible and cost-share regardless of the provider's network status: Ambulance (ground only), Cardiac Catheterization, Diagnostic Procedures - Office or Outpatient Setting - (e.g., EMG, nerve conduction, digestive endoscopy, EGD, urodynamic studies, endoscopic ultrasound), Emergency Room Services, Home Health Services; Mammography (Diagnostic or Routine), and Urgent Care Center.
All other services rendered by non-contracted providers (even if pre-authorized) may be subject to the POS payment policy. Some non-contracted services may be authorized for payment at in-network rates based on medical necessity or network adequacy.
Hold Harmless information by plan can be found here:
Hold Harmless – US Family Health Plan
Participating US Family Health Plan providers have contractually agreed that, except for the collection of copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, payments for non-covered services, or payments for covered services provided after their agreement is terminated, in no event shall they bill, charge, collect a deposit from, or seek any recourse against any member or person acting on a member's behalf for covered services. Participating providers may bill or charge members for non-covered services if the member agrees in writing, prior to the provision of the services, to pay for the services.
US Family Health Plan contracted providers must obtain a signed Acknowledgement of Financial Responsibility Statement from the member in order to bill or collect for non-covered surgeries or TRICARE excluded services (see Member Handbook). General waiver forms signed at time of admission are not sufficient per TRICARE regulations. The waiver must be specific to the date of service and include the CPT code and the charge for the service.
As outlined in the TRICARE Operations Manual 6010.56-M, February 1, 2008, a network provider may not require payment from beneficiaries for any excluded services that the beneficiary received from the network provider and the beneficiary is "held harmless". Excluded or excludable services include TRICARE statutory exclusions (e.g. cosmetic procedures, certain durable medical equipment items or supplies) or services considered to be unproven or experimental. Providers are required to follow all applicable pre-authorization requirements, as Hold Harmless provisions apply.
Specifically, Chapter 5, Section 1, Network Development, states the following:
"A network provider may not require payment from the beneficiary for any excluded or excludable services that the beneficiary received from the network provider (i.e., the beneficiary will be held harmless) except as follows:
- If the beneficiary did not inform the provider that he or she was a TRICARE beneficiary, the provider may bill the beneficiary for services provided.
- If the beneficiary was informed that the services were excluded or excludable and he/she agreed in advance to pay for the services, the provider may bill the beneficiary. An agreement to pay must be evidenced by written records ("written records" include for example: 1) provider notes written prior to receipt of the services demonstrating that the beneficiary was informed that the services were excluded or excludable and the beneficiary agreed to pay for them; 2) a statement or letter written by the beneficiary prior to receipt of the services, acknowledging that the services were excluded or excludable and agreeing to pay for them; 3) statements written by both the beneficiary and provider following receipt of the services that the beneficiary, prior to receipt of the services, agreed to pay for them, knowing that the services were excluded or excludable). General agreements to pay, such as those signed by the beneficiary at the time of admission, are not evidence that the beneficiary knew specific services were excluded or excludable."
A TRICARE-approved, waiver of patient financial responsibility form is available in Forms and Documents.
Hold Harmless - Generations Advantage
Participating Generations Advantage providers have contractually agreed that, except for the collection of copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, payments for non-covered services, or payments for covered services provided after their agreement is terminated, in no event shall, they bill, charge, collect a deposit from, or seek any recourse against any member or person acting on a member’s behalf, for covered services. The Member shall be held harmless from any liability for payment and the provider shall look solely to Martin's Point Generations Advantage for payment for covered services.
This does not prohibit the collection of amounts due for services that have been identified in advance as non-covered, provided the Member has been notified of his/her financial obligation in accordance with the CMS regulations for Medicare Advantage organizations. CMS regulations require that a coverage determination be made with a standard denial notice for a non-covered Service. If prior to rendering the service, the provider obtains, or instructs the member to obtain, a coverage determination for a non-covered Service, the member can be held financially responsible for such non-covered services.
Members are also held harmless from financial responsibility for services rendered by providers who are not yet credentialed by Martin’s Point. Credentialing approval must be received prior to treating our members and each provider must be individually credentialed, regardless of the credentialing status of other providers in the same practice. After submitting a credentialing application, please allow 90 days for the process to be completed.
Martin's Point Health Care is firmly committed to ongoing prevention, education, detection, investigation, reporting, and elimination of fraudulent, wasteful and abusive claim practices.
On an ongoing basis, we evaluate care and services rendered to eligible beneficiaries to ensure that only medically necessary services are provided to eligible beneficiaries by authorized providers under existing laws and regulations, Defense Health Agency (DHA), Medicare instructions, and in accordance with nationally recognized standards.
Martin's Point Health Care has programs in place to make post-payment audits of provider claims. These post-payment reviews are conducted in a manner consistent with professional audit guidelines.
Martin's Point maintains policies related to these audits which are available by contacting the Network Management Department at 1-800-348-9804.
Disclaimer:
As every claim is unique, the use of this policy is neither a guarantee of payment nor a final prediction of how specific claim(s) will be adjudicated.
Claims payment is subject to member eligibility and benefits on the date of services, coordination of benefits, referral/authorization, and utilization management guidelines when applicable and the adherence to plan policies and procedures and claims editing logic. Martin's Point Health Care (MPHC) has the right to conduct audits on any provider and/or facility to ensure compliance with the guidelines stated in this disclaimer.
If such an audit determines that your office/facility did not comply with Martin's Point reimbursement guidelines, MPHC has the right to expect your office/facility to refund all payments related to non-compliance.