Over the last several months, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) has updated you about their compliance activities to support the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Medicare Secondary Payer requirements. The reason for the new requirements is to determine who should be the primary payer for claims – Independence Blue Cross (IBC) or Medicare.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS AN EMPLOYER?
In June 2009, IBC asked you to send them accurate social security numbers of employees enrolled on or after January 1, 2009. Now, as the second phase of IBC compliance initiatives, IBC is requesting that you provide information on the total number of employees in your organization.

In the next few days, IBC will be mailing organizations with 2 to 99 eligible employees a letter explaining how to provide employer size information to IBC. IBC has made it easy for you by providing an automated response telephone number. Also included in the letter is information about how employer size determines primary and secondary payers, what a multiple/multi-plan employer is, and how you should determine your employee size.

WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
In order to meet the Medicare Secondary Payer reporting requirements and to continue proper claims payment for your organization’s Medicare-eligible employees, IBC is providing a convenient way for you to submit employer size information. You should call IBC’s designated MSP number at 1-888-445-8057. This number will be available 24/7 between March 1, 2010, and April 30, 2010. When calling, you will be prompted to follow these steps:

1. Say or enter their customer ID (CID). This number can be found at the top of your letter.
   
2. Say or enter the five-digit zip code, also located at the top of your letter. This zip code must be used in order to verify customer information.
   
3. Say or enter your total number of employees.
   
4. The number of employees you have entered will be repeated to you. At this time you may press 1 to confirm or press 2 to make a correction and reenter the information.
   
5. When completed, you will hear a message confirming that your employer size has been submitted.
   

If you have any additional questions regarding the information within this eCommunication, please call Corporate Synergies at 1.866.CSG.1719 or CLICK HERE to contact us today.

Corporate Synergies is pleased to provide regular updates on issues affecting group benefits insurance. As an insurance broker and consultant, Corporate Synergies is proactive in monitoring federal and state legislative and regulatory activity to ensure that you stay informed. Our customers call us their “Dedicated Advocates”. We work on your behalf.