Claims

Published 12/01/2016

How Do I File Part B Claims to Medicare?

  • File Electronically: Most providers submit electronic ANSI 837P claims.
    • Before filing claims electronically to Medicare, you must have an EDI enrollment packet on file with Palmetto GBA. See our Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) resources for more information on enrolling for electronic claim submissions.
    • View the Electronic Filing Instructions
    • Palmetto GBA Interactive CMS-1500 Claim Form Instructions — This resource can also be helpful to providers who submit electronic claims. The help files for each CMS-1500 claim form field include the corresponding ANSI ASC 837P v5010 Loop, Segment, and Element, when applicable.
  • File via Paper: Some providers that meet exceptions to mandatory electronic billing are allowed to submit CMS-1500 paper claim forms.
  • File an eClaim: eServices users also have the ability to submit paperless eClaims through the portal.
Claims must be filed to the appropriate MAC no later than 12 months, one calendar year, from the date of service. Timely filing is determined by the date a processable claim is received by the appropriate MAC. Claims that are rejected as unprocessable are not considered submitted claims for the purposes of determining timely filing. Rejected claims must be corrected and resubmitted no later than 12 months from the date of service. Medicare will deny claims received after the deadline date. 

For more information on timely filing including the limited exceptions to the 12-month timely filing period, see IOM Pub. 100-04, Chapter 1 (PDF, 1.62 MB), Section 70 - Time Limitations for Filing Part A and Part B Claims.

For information on submitting a request for a timely filing extension, see Checklist for Timely Filing Extension.

The Advanced Communication Engine (ACE) Is Really SMART!

If you submit claims via the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) option, our ACE tool will return pre-adjudicated Part B claims information through a claim acknowledgement transaction report, called a Medicare 277CA report. Submitters will receive the Medicare 277CA report with ACE Smart Edits if a claim is identified as containing a potential claim submission error that requires the submitters attention.

Smart Edits generate rejection alerts that provide submitters with granular messaging or educational awareness related to billing issues identified with their claim submission. The ACE tool affords you the opportunity to correct your billing issues prior to the claim being adjudicated in the claims processing system, allowing for more efficient and accurate claims processing.


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