Ask the Contractor Teleconference

July 20, 2006

Topic: Medicare Remit Easy Print (MREP)

Questions & Answers

 

Question 1: What’s the turnaround time on payment using the MREP?

Answer 1: MREP and 835 Remittance don’t affect speed of payment. If you submit electronically, payment turnaround is 13 days. Payment takes 29 days for paper submitters.

           

Question 2: How can I find out if a doctor is enrolled already to receive 835 remittances?

Answer 2: Contact your local Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Department; they can let you know whether you are set up.

 

Question 3: Can we access the remit from multiple locations?

Answer 3: Yes, Easy Print can be installed on a PC or a network. Directions can be found in the user’s manual at the Easy Print section of the CMS website. Once downloaded, the file can also be exported.

 

Question 4: Is it possible to print just one claim?

Answer 4: Yes, choose a single claim to view, then click the print button in the lower left corner.

 

Question 5: How long do we have access to the remittance files?

Answer 5: Files can be downloaded from the CABBS bulletin board for 30 days. The files can be stored on a computer or burned on a CD indefinitely.

 

Question 6: How far back does the 835 remittance reflect dates of service? 

Answer 6:-  Weekly remit reflects transactions of previous week.

 

Question 7: How about training on Easy Print?  

Answer 7:  A Medicare Remit Easy Print Demo PowerPoint presentation is available on the CMS website which gives step by step instructions on using the program. See

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/AccesstoDataApplication/02_MedicareRemitEasyPrint.asp

 

Question 8: How can we obtain copies of previous Medicare Remittance Advices?

Answer 8:  Copies of previous RAs can be requested through Medicare’s Interactive Voice Response  (IVR) System. The IVR phone numbers are:

 

n      Maine 1-877-567-3129

n      Massachusetts 1-877-567-3130

n      New Hampshire & Vermont 1-866-539-5595

n      Northern California 1-877-591-1587

n      Southern California 1-866-502-9054

 

Question 9: How do we send Medicare secondary electronically?

Answer 9: Contact your local EDI department for steps on entering dollar amounts,  check numbers and other EOB information into an electronic file to transmit to Medicare for MSP payments.

 

Question 10: Do we have to submit on Easy Print to receive on Easy Print?

Answer 10:No. Files can’t be transmitted on Easy Print; it is only designed for interpreting Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA) files. Easy Print can be used regardless of whether claims are submitted electronically or on paper. 

 

For more information on Medicare Remit Easy Print:

 

The CMS website has its own section dedicated to the MREP http://www.cms.hhs.gov/AccesstoDataApplication/02_MedicareRemitEasyPrint.asp#TopOfPage

 

The application for enrolling to receive electronic remittance may be found at:

http://www.medicarenhic.com/edi/download/eraforminfo_0706.pdf

 

Please return the Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA) Enrollment form to your local Medicare Part B EDI Department.

 

For more information, call:

NHIC- California                                            NHIC- New England

PO Box 54905                                                  PO Box 9104

Los Angeles, CA 90054-0905                             Hingham, MA 02044-9104

Attn: EDI Department                                       Attn: EDI Department

Fax: (213) 593-5975                                           Fax: (781) 741-3523

Northern California Phone (530) 896-7117          Phone (781) 749-7745

Southern California Phone (213) 593-6950

                                                                               

8/10/06