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This website provides information and news about the Medicare program for health care professionals only. All communication and issues regarding your Medicare benefits are handled directly by Medicare and not through this website. For the most comprehensive experience, we encourage you to visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. In the event your provider fails to submit your Medicare claim, please view these resources for claim assistance.
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Claim submission guidelines

Modified: 6/7/2024
Read this article to learn more about appropriately billing Part A drugs.
Modified: 6/5/2024
Read this important article to learn about compliance with the mandatory Medicare claim submission requirements.
Modified: 4/25/2024
Read this article for information on mammography coverage and certification of mammography facilities.
Modified: 4/19/2024
Read this article for diagnosis coding guidelines on correctly billing malnutrition claims.
Modified: 4/10/2024
For Part A providers with multiple facility PTANs linked to a single NPI, learn about our new automated process to match the most appropriate PTAN to your NPI.
Modified: 4/9/2024
A claim must be submitted to Medicare no later than one year after the date of service to be considered filed timely. Claims returned or rejected as unprocessable have not been filed successfully.
Modified: 4/9/2024
A claim must be submitted to Medicare no later than one year after the date of service to be considered filed timely. Claims returned to the provider have not been filed successfully.
Modified: 3/12/2024
For Part B providers with multiple billing PTANs linked to a single NPI, learn about our new automated process to match the most appropriate PTAN to your NPI.
Modified: 2/22/2024
See common definitions for claim submission types that may impact your billing.
Modified: 5/3/2024
This article provides guidance for billing provider-liable acute inpatient non-covered and acute partial inpatient non-covered days, and acute inpatient non-covered beneficiary-liable days.
Modified: 7/25/2024
Correct coding requires the most specific code available describing a service to be reported. Not otherwise classified (NOC) codes must only be used when a more specific HCPCS or CPT code is not available. Review this article for proper use of NOC codes.
Modified: 6/7/2024
Read this article to learn more about appropriately billing Part B drugs.
Modified: 6/4/2024
The following information discusses the conditions and requirements of the item fields within the CMS-1500 (02/12) paper claim form and the electronic equivalent elements.
Modified: 5/29/2024
This article describes First Coast’s new coversheet for hardcopy UB-04 form submissions.
Modified: 5/28/2024
Tired of having claims returned because you didn't complete the primary insurance section of the CMS 1500 (02/12) form? This short tutorial focuses on how to complete the patient information section of the CMS-1500 (02/12) form.
Modified: 5/23/2024
Correct coding requires the most specific code available describing a service to be reported. Not otherwise classified (NOC) codes must only be used when a more specific HCPCS or CPT code is not available. Review this article for proper use of NOC codes.
Modified: 5/6/2024
First Coast made changes to how we handle paper claims marked for "other insurance". Review this article to avoid claim rejections of this kind.
Modified: 5/5/2024
Use this form before doing a hardcopy claim submission.
Modified: 5/1/2024
First Coast has been made aware of complaints by beneficiaries being required to pay for services up front. This article explains what may occur when indicating a patient payment amount on a claim and provides solutions when assignment is accepted.
Modified: 4/28/2024
There are three ways to obtain the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), which is effective when the beneficiary was or is eligible for Medicare. This article was most recently revised March 19, 2020, to clarify that the beneficiary’s first name, last name, date of birth, and SSN are needed to use the MBI lookup tool. All other information remains the same. [SE18006]
Modified: 4/22/2024
This FAQ provides information on timely filing of claims.
Modified: 4/22/2024
This tutorial focuses on areas of the CMS-1500 (02/12) form where errors occur, including items containing NPI numbers.
Modified: 4/20/2024
The JW and JZ modifier policy applies to all drugs separately payable under Medicare Part B described as supplied in a single-dose containers. Read this article to understand how these modifiers should be billed.
Modified: 4/20/2024
The JW and JZ modifier policy applies to all drugs separately payable under Medicare Part B described as supplied in a “single-dose” containers. Read this article to understand how these modifiers should be billed.
Modified: 4/19/2024
Are you wondering why your claims aren't crossing over to your secondary insurance? Read this FAQ for assistance.
Modified: 4/18/2024
First Coast has noticed an increase in errors on the CMS-1500 (02/12) claim form. This article addresses important instructions regarding completion of the paper claim form.
Modified: 4/13/2024
Learn about the top errors First Coast has identified for Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) claims and how you can prevent the errors on your claims.
Modified: 4/10/2024
Did you know the leading reason why the Recovery Audit Contractor denies the drug Octagam during a medical review is for lack of documentation? Learn more about preventing unnecessary denials.
Modified: 4/5/2024
First Coast is providing new billing and coding instructions for hemophilia clotting factor products. Effective for claims processed on or after September 13, 2021, hemophilia clotting factor products not billed following this new direction will be denied.
Modified: 3/31/2024
This article provides beneficiary guidelines for submitting claims rendered in Florida, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico.
Modified: 3/12/2024
Hospitals should report condition code G0 (zero) on Part A claims when multiple medical evaluation and management (E/M) visits occur on the same day in the same revenue center, but the visits were distinct and independent visits.
Modified: 2/23/2024
First Coast has seen an increase in claims for drugs, hemophilia clotting factors, and skin substitutes that exceed the dollar amounts above $99,999.99. Effective for claims received on or after November 6, claims missing the required information will be rejected. Read this article for more billing information.
Modified: 9/21/2023
This fact sheet is designed to provide guidance to health care professionals and suppliers who transmit health care claims electronically or use paper claim forms. It includes information about Medicare claims submissions, coding, submitting accurate claims, when Medicare will accept a hard copy claim form, timely filing, and where to submit FFS (fee for service) claims.
Modified: 9/20/2023
When billing for unlisted drug codes, include the name, strength, and dosage of the drug. [CMS IOM Pub 100-04, Ch. 17]
Modified: 10/1/2022
Want to learn the key differences between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage plan? Take a look at our YouTube video.
Modified: 8/3/2021
This interactive tool provides the basic guidelines for completing the data element requirements for the CMS-1500 (02/12) claim form
Modified: 11/6/2020
This document outlines instructions -- for Medicare administrative contractors -- regarding how to request assistance from First Coast Service Options to resolve an overlapping claim.
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.