Medicare Claims Processing Manual (Pub. 100-04), Ch. 2 § 90.1
Patient Identification
90.1 - Patient Identification
(Rev. 4247, Issued: 03-01-19, Effective: 04-01-19, Implementation: 04-01 -19)
The term Medicare beneficiary identifier (Mbi) is a general term describing a
beneficiary's Medicare identification number. For purposes of this manual, Medicare
beneficiary identifier references both the Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) and
the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) during the new Medicare card transition
period and after for certain business areas that will continue to use the HICN as part of
their processes.
Upon registration of a Medicare beneficiary, or as soon thereafter as practical, the
hospital will ask the patient for his/her health insurance card to obtain the Medicare
beneficiary identifier. If the patient is unable to provide it, the hospital will contact the
SSO for assistance.