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Last Modified: 11/27/2024 Location: FL, PR, USVI Business: Part A, Part B

SPOT FAQs

Registration/login

Benefits and eligibility

Claims data and reopening

Submit documents

Registration/login

SPOT/IDM accounts
Q1: How do I register for the Secure Provider Online Tool (SPOT)?
Q2: I already have an Identity Management (IDM) account, how do I add access to SPOT as an end user?
Q3: I just received confirmation of my account request, why can’t I login?
A3: To use the SPOT, you must complete the full new user registration process through the IDM website. If you have your IDM account and attempt to log on to SPOT before your application access request has been approved (i.e., no request submitted, request in pending status, or request in denied status), a permission error message will be returned:
If you have an IDM account and have submitted your SPOT access request, you will receive an email once your request has been approved or denied. However, if you are unsure of the status of your SPOT access request, you may contact the SPOT Help Desk (855-416-4199 option 1) or email: FCSOSpotHelp@fcso.com). Please make sure to include your IDM account User ID and request confirmation number.
Clear your internet browser’s cache between logins. If you have acquired an IDM account and have approved access to the SPOT, you may encounter the permission error message if you have not cleared your internet browser’s cache between logins to either the IDM or SPOT websites. To avoid this error in the future, please make sure to clear your internet browser’s cache at the end of every visit to the IDM website or the SPOT website. When you wish to access the website again, make sure to open a new internet browser window to log in.
Q4: I have a SPOT account, why am I getting an error message when logging in?
Q5: Will I lose my SPOT access if I become inactive?
A5: No, the SPOT user will need to do a password reset.
Q6: Can multiple users from the same organization use one IDM account? If an employee leaves the organization, can another employee use the IDM account?
A6: No, users are not permitted to share accounts. Each user much register for their own account. Refer to: IDM account sharing forbidden
Multifactor authentication (MFA)
Q7: How do I register, add, or change my MFA device for access SPOT?
Q8: When do I need to have a registered MFA device in place?
A8: The MFA passcode is required to log in to SPOT every time they log in. SPOT account holders are encouraged to register multiple devices.
Q9: Can I register more than one MFA device?
A9: Yes. It is recommended that you register more than one MFA device. To register a second or third device, follow the steps you took in registering your initial MFA device. When logging into SPOT, you will select only one of these devices to receive your MFA passcode. Registration of additional devices ensures your access to SPOT should other devices not function properly. Passcodes change each time you log in to SPOT.
Q10: If I am already getting a request to enter a multifactor authentication (MFA) passcode, do I need to register another device to access SPOT?
A10: If you use other applications such as Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) or Provider Statistical and Reimbursement (PS&R) that are hosted on the Identity Management (IDM) system, then you have already completed registration of an MFA device with your IDM account. You are ready to use MFA to access SPOT. CMS uses MFA to verify account holder identity for many of the other applications hosted on its IDM system.
Q11: Can I register a single MFA device for multiple users?
A11: No. Each MFA device must be used for the SPOT account for which it’s registered. Passcodes generated from unlinked MFA devices will not work. Also, please note that SPOT and IDM accounts may not be shared. First Coast strongly recommends that you register multiple devices to ensure your access to SPOT.
Q12: Does the same code get sent to all the devices you registered?
A12: The IDM authentication system will only send one passcode to one device at a time. While you may register more than one device, you can only request a passcode be sent to one device at a time. Secondary devices should be registered to serve as a fail-safe in the event the first MFA device does not generate in passcode to you. If you elect to receive your passcode via email, note that this may take several minutes before you receive the passcode to log in to SPOT.
RIDP
Q13: What happens to the data submitted for identity proofing?
A13: CMS’ IDM collects your personal information, described as data that is unique to you as an individual, such as name, address, telephone number, Social Security number, and date of birth. IDM uses this personal information only to verify your identity. Your information will be sent to Experian, an external identity verification provider, to help us confirm your identity.
The questions and answers are strictly between you and the remote identity proofing (RIDP) service, Experian. Neither First Coast nor IDM will store the information you submit through RIDP. Experian is required by law to securely maintain this data for seven years. For more information regarding how CMS uses the information you provide, please read the CMS Privacy Act Statement at: https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Computer-Data-and-Systems/Privacy/index.html?redirect=/Privacy external link.
Q14: Will RIDP affect my credit?
A14: No, this type of inquiry does not affect your credit score. You will not incur any charges related to this inquiry. When identity proofing, Experian creates something called a soft inquiry. Soft inquiries are visible only to you, the consumer, and no one else. Soft inquiries have no impact on your credit report, history, or score other than being recorded and maintained for 23 months.

Benefits and eligibility

Q15: Why can’t I locate the deductible information when checking a patient’s eligibility?
A15: If the beneficiary is enrolled as a Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), deductible information may not be available at the time of the query.
HETS (HIPAA Eligibility Transaction System) indicates periods during which the beneficiary is enrolled as a QMB and will indicate the beneficiary owes $0 for Medicare Part A and B deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments. This information will be displayed under the QMB tab within SPOT.
QMB beneficiaries have no legal liability to pay Medicare providers for Medicare Part A or Part B cost-sharing. For these beneficiaries, providers may bill state Medicaid agencies which are responsible for covering Medicare cost-sharing, though the beneficiary may also have other secondary payers (e.g., VA, tribes, Medigap).
Please refer to MLN ICN 006977 external pdf file for more information.
Q16: Where can I find other insurance information for my patient?
A16: There are two tabs under eligibility that will provide helpful information regarding other insurance. The Medicare Advantage plan tab will provide you with the name, address, and other information for a patient’s Medicare Advantage plan, if applicable. The MSP (Medicare secondary payer) tab will provide the reason that Medicare is secondary, as well as the other insurance effective date and term dates, name, policy number and address. Any other insurance the patient may have to coordinate benefits with, including claim crossover information, is not available through the eligibility feature.

Claims data and reopening

Q17: Are there restricted modifiers, procedure codes, or denial codes that cannot be corrected through the reopening process using SPOT?
Q18: What types of changes may I include in a claim reopening request? May I change more than one field on each line item? Can I add or remove line items?
A18: Refer to section 6 of the SPOT User Guide

Submit documents

Q19: What types of requests and forms can be submitted through SPOT?
A19: Refer to section 8 of the SPOT User Guide
First Coast Service Options (First Coast) strives to ensure that the information available on our provider website is accurate, detailed, and current. Therefore, this is a dynamic site and its content changes daily. It is best to access the site to ensure you have the most current information rather than printing articles or forms that may become obsolete without notice.