Part A interactive voice response (IVR) operating guide

1-877-602-8816

First Coast strives to provide you with the most up to date automation features as possible. The IVR operating guide will help to increase your knowledge of the technology and services we offer our providers. You may also find our IVR Quick Reference Guide helpful.

Hours of operation

IVR unit hours of availability

The IVR is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except for regularly scheduled maintenance.

Note: Specific claim and/or eligibility information is only available during the following times, with the exception of holidays: 

• Monday - Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., ET
• Saturday 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., ET

Touchtone or speech

All callers have the option of selecting speech or touchtone when using the IVR. In order to receive maximum, results you deserve when speaking we offer the following tips:

• Use a telephone with a handset or headset
• Avoid using a speakerphone or cell phone
• Avoid calling from areas with loud background noise
• Speak the requested information clearly in a quiet environment

*When using the speech recognition option on the IVR, and keying the date is required (date of service, date of birth, etc.), the date must be given in 8-digit format (mm/dd/yyyy). 

In the event the system does not accept the spoken information, touch-tone is always available. In order to receive the maximum results you deserve when using touch-tone we offer the following tips:

• Dates should be entered in the following format (mm/dd/yy)
• To signal you are entering an alpha suffix or letter, press the * key
• Press the key that includes the letter, then the corresponding number that denotes where the letter is located on the number key.
• If the patient’s last name contains a suffix, hyphen, or apostrophe, enter up to six letters before the special character. Stop entering once you reach the special character up to a maximum of six letters, whichever comes first. (Example: if the last name is “De-Amaro” enter only “DE”).
• If the patient’s last name contains a space between two last names, callers should enter the first six letters of the ‘primary’ last name for beneficiary authentication. (Example: if the last name is “Correa Augusto” enter “CORREA” for the last name).
• After all letters desired have been keyed, press the pound (#) sign to end your entry. 

Use the numbers on the telephone keypad that corresponds to the patient or provider number:

A = *21#

Q =*72#

R = *73#

Z = *94#

Helpful tips

As a result of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), we are required to protect the privacy of all individuals. You must have the following information available for authentication to access patient eligibility, deductible and claims information from the IVR:

• National Provider Identifier (NPI)
• Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN)
• Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• Beneficiary Medicare ID
• Beneficiary name
• Beneficiary date of birth
• Date of service (if applicable)

Main menu - number / options

1. Closures and general information
2. Claim status
3. Check status
4. Medicare seminars and publication information
5. Eligibility
6. Remittance codes and prior authorization inquiries
7. Enrollment information

Closures and general information: Press 1

• Training and holiday closures, press 1
• Hot topics, press 2
• Provider outreach and education information, press 3
• General MSP and appeals information, press 4
• Hours of operation, press 5

Claim status: Press 2

The IVR voices the following information: 

• Type of bill
• Amount submitted
• Date claim received
• Reimbursement amount
• Document Control Number (DCN)
• Remittance advice date

The IVR voices the following information when it is returned to the provider:

• Date claim received
• Amount submitted
• Date returned
• Document Control Number (DCN)
• Reason code
• Reason for return

The IVR voices the following on pending claims:

• Date claim received
• Amount submitted
• Document Control Number

Check information: Press 3 

• To obtain the amount of your last check, press 1
• For information on an individual check by check date, press 2
• For information on your last three checks, press 3

Publication information: Press 4

• For information on Medicare seminars, press 1
• For information on CMS publications, press 2
• For information on Medicare Part A publications, press 3 

Eligibility information: Press 5

• For current eligibility information, press 1

  • Part A and B entitlement date
  • Part A and B termination date (if applicable)

  • *Part B deductible information

    • Current year deductible
    • Previous year deductible

    *Deductible information is not provided for patients enrolled as a Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)

  • Full hospital days remaining
  • Hospital co insurance days remaining
  • Full skilled nursing facility days
  • Skilled nursing facility co insurance days
  • Lifetime reserve days remaining
  • Lifetime psychiatric days remaining
  • Last billing date
  • Medicare Advantage information
  • Medicare is primary or secondary

  If Medicare Advantage Plan is found, you can press 1 for more information.

  • The IVR will give the Medicare Advantage Plan number
  • Plan type
  • Plan name, address, and telephone number
  • Effective dates and termination date of policy

  If Medicare is secondary, press 1 for additional MSP details

  • Type of primary insurance
  • Effective and termination date for all valid insurers for either current or previous date of service.
  • For eligibility for a previous date of service, press 2
  • For physical and occupational therapy Information, press 3
  • For Medicare Advantage Plan information, Press 4
  • To check patient discharge status (Florida only) information, Press 5
  • Caller enters a specific Medicare Advantage plan number to receive specific information such as:
    • Plan Type

    • Plan name, address, and telephone number

      Note: After primary eligibility information is obtained, the IVR will prompt the caller to press an option for additional eligibility.

Sub menu for additional eligibility menu

• Skilled nursing facility (press 3)
  • SNF effective date
  • Termination date (if applicable)
  • Servicing provider name, address, and telephone number
• Hospice (press 4)
  • Hospice effective date
  • Termination date (if applicable)
  • Servicing provider name, address, and telephone number
• Home health (press 5)
  • Home health effective date
  • Termination date (if applicable)
  • Servicing provider name, address, and telephone number

Definitions of remittance codes: Press 6

• For remittance code information, press 1
• To determine if a procedure code requires prior authorization from Medicare, press 2

Enrollment information: Press 7

• For status of an enrollment application, press 1
• For a summary of applications and when to use them, press 2
• For a summary of documents required for certain specialties, press 3
• For mailing address and PECOS internet enrollment information, press 4
• For open enrollment and participation in Medicare information, press 5
• For a summary of enrollment information available on our website, press 6

Repeat menu: Press 8

This option returns callers to the main menu

End call: Press 9

This option ends the call in the IVR.

Additional information

Customer service representatives -  Medicare Part A

• 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, ET / CT*, excluding holiday closings and trainings.

* CT only for providers in Florida

• Toll-free telephone numbers: 

  • Florida / U.S. Virgin Islands: 1-888-664-4112 (TTY: 711)
  • Puerto Rico: 1-877-908-8433 (TTY: 711)

Training hours 

The First Coast Medicare Part A provider call centers are typically closed for staff training purposes on Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., ET. View the full training schedule. 

General written inquiries

Online submission: Medicare program-related inquiry

Website links

For additional information, visit the CMS website.