New Web Site Address
The
CMS Web site was completely redesigned. The new Web site employs a user-friendly design to get visitors the information they need with the least amount of clicks. Currently, Chapter 31 (ANSI X12N Formats Other than Claims or Remittance) of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual contains Web addresses that no longer work. If used, the following message will appear. "We're sorry. The page you requested cannot be found. CMS has recently launched a Web site redesign and many addresses have changed." Change Request (CR) 4366 updates the Web addresses in Chapter 31. See instructions below:
Electronic 270 Files
All electronic 270 files will be processed at the CMS data center. The CMS data center will use a single consolidated national eligibility database to respond to the eligibility inquiries.
Access Process for Clearinghouses/Providers
Authenticated to Conduct 270/271 Transactions?
If you have been authenticated by CMS to conduct 270/271 transactions, you must complete a Trading Partner Agreement for Submission of 270s to Medicare on a Real-Time Basis. This agreement outlines security and privacy procedures for the Medicare beneficiary database. The Medicare Eligibility Integration Contractor (MEIC) will e-mail the Trading Partner Agreement for Submission of 270s to Medicare on a Real-Time Basis to each authenticated submitter. Each submitter should complete the form in its entirety and e-mail it to
MCAREHD@emdeon.com.
Not Authenticated to Conduct 270/271 Transactions?
In order to obtain access to the CMS 270/271 Medicare Eligibility transaction from the Medicare Data Communication Network (MDCN), you must access the
appropriate forms on the updated CMS Web site. First, complete the Trading Partner Agreement for Submission of 270s to Medicare on a Real-Time Basis. This agreement outlines security and privacy procedures for the Medicare beneficiary database. Complete all the information on the form electronically and click on the appropriate assurances. If you do not consent to the terms of the agreement, the access process will be terminated.
If you check the appropriate boxes of the agreement and supply the information requested, a copy of the completed form will be electronically submitted to the CMS 270/271 MEIC for security authentication. The access process will then continue, and you will be directed to complete an MDCN Connectivity Form. This form must be submitted electronically in order for you to be connected to the 270/271 eligibility database.
CMS will ensure that all necessary information is provided on the forms, and ensure the complete connectivity to the 270/271 application. The MEIC will be responsible for contacting the clearinghouses, providers, and trading partners to authenticate the accessing entity's identity. Once authentication has been completed, the MEIC will provide the clearinghouses, providers, and trading partners with a submitter ID that must be used on all 270/271 transactions. Testing will be coordinated by the MEIC. After successful testing, 270 production inquiries may be sent in real-time. Please note that in order to access the MDCN, you must obtain the necessary telecommunications software from the AT&T reseller on your own.
The current AT&T resellers and contact numbers are listed below:
- IVANS: (800) 548-2675
- McKesson: (800) 782-7426, option 5, then key option 8
Help Desk Support
The MEIC will provide help desk support during the hours of 7 a.m. through 9 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. The phone number is (866) 324-7315. The e-mail address for the helpdesk is
MCARE@cms.hhs.gov.
Telecommunications Wrapper
Communications through the extranet to the CMS data center will be via the TCP/IP streaming socket protocol. Trading partners can submit multiple 270 transactions. It will not be necessary to wait for a response before triggering the next 270. Trading partners must ensure that the session remains connected until all responses are received. Each submitted transmission shall contain one 270 transaction with only one ISA and IEA segment, along with a transmission wrapper around the 270 transaction. There will be no handshake after the connection is accepted with the first submitted transmission.