How does the practitioner investigate whether there are Medicare Conditional Payments?
A5. Contacting the Coordination of Benefits Contractor (COBC) is always the first step in the process. For the initial Medicare conditional medical payment inquiry the practitioner should first call CMS/COBC at 1-800-999-1118 (Fax: 1-646-488-6762 or http://www.cms.hhs.gov/COBGeneralInformation/03_ContactingtheCOBContractor.asp) and request that they initiate a “lien search”. The practitioner may also initiate the process by letter with proper Proof of Representation and Consent to Release forms included. These documents are required whether the inquiry is by telephone or in writing. The COBC mailing address is: Medicare-Coordination of Benefits, P.O. Box 33847, Detroit, MI 48232-5847. Note: MSPRC will provide conditional payment information to a workers’ compensation entity/carrier or no-fault insurer without a Consent to Release document. However, MSPRC will not provide conditional payment information to a liability insurer, including a self-insurance entity, without a proper Consent
