CMS Pub. 100-04, ch. 6, § 70.2

The term Medicare beneficiary identifier (Mbi) is a general term describing a

beneficiary’s Medicare identification number. For purposes of this manual, Medicare

beneficiary identifier references both the Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) and

the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) during the new Medicare card transition

period and after for certain business areas that will continue to use the HICN as part of

their processes.

Upon cessation of a SNF’s participation in the program, or when a SNF is not receiving

payments for new admissions, the RO is supplied with the names and Medicare

beneficiary identifiers of Medicare beneficiaries entitled to have payment made on their

behalf for services in accordance with §80.1.

SNFs no longer participating in the program, or those under a denial of payment for new

admissions, continue to bill for covered services per §80.l. They continue to submit “no-payment” death, discharge and reduction from SNF level of care bills for Medicare

beneficiaries admitted prior to the termination of their agreement, or prior to the denial of

payments for new admissions.