HOPE Guidance Manual v1.02, Item A0600

Timepoint(s) Item Completed

Admission (ADM)

HOPE Update Visit 1 (HUV1)

HOPE Update Visit 2 (HUV2)

Discharge (DC)

Item-Specific Instructions

A. Social Security Number

• Enter the Social Security Number (SSN), one number per

space, starting with the left-most space.

• If the patient's SSN is not available or the patient refuses to

provide it, the item may be left blank.

• A valid SSN should be submitted whenever available so that

record matching can be performed as accurately as possible.

B. Medicare Number

• Enter the Medicare or MBI number, exactly as it appears on the patient’s Medicare card.

• A Medicare number is an identifier assigned to an individual for participation in national health

insurance program(s).

• It is also referred to as the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI).

• In an effort to fight identity theft for Medicare beneficiaries, CMS replaced the SSN-based Health

Insurance Claim Number (HICN) with the MBI.

• Confirm that the patient’s name on the record matches the patient’s name on the Medicare card.

• If the patient does not have a Medicare number, the item may be left blank.

DEFINITION

SOCIAL SECURITY

NUMBER

A tracking number assigned

to an individual by the U.S.

federal government for

taxation, benefits, and

identification purposes.

Coding Tips

• To avoid inaccuracies in patient record matching, Item A0600 should only be left blank if the patient

does not have an SSN or in rare instances where the SSN is unavailable.

• The Medicare number is not intended to reflect the patient’s payer source.

• The Medicare number is only used for patient identification purposes.

• If the hospice is notified after the record has been submitted that the patient does have a Medicare

number, include it on the next record.

o For instance, if the Medicare number is received after submission of the Admission record, include

the patient’s Medicare number on the next HOPE record, such as HUV1, HUV2, or the Discharge

(DC) record.

o Including the Medicare number on the next record at a later date does not require a Modification

Request to the original Admission record.