Reminder that patient Medicare numbers are considered protected health information (HIPAA)


CMS is mailing new Medicare cards with new Medicare numbers (known as the Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs)) to people newly enrolling in Medicare. People who already have Medicare coverage will receive their cards on a flow basis.

The MBI is protected health information. Protect the MBI and only share it for Medicare-related business, just as you currently do with the Health Insurance Claim Number.

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What Is MBI Medicare?

MBI, or Medicare Beneficiary Identifier, is a unique identifier replacing the former Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) on Medicare cards to protect patient privacy and enhance security. It consists of 11 characters with numbers and uppercase letters, ensuring secure identification for Medicare beneficiaries.

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