Assignment of Benefits

Assignment of benefits is not authorization to submit claims.

It is important to note that the beneficiary signature requirements for submission of claims are separate and distinct from assignment of benefits requirements except where the beneficiary died before signing the request for payment for a service furnished by a supplier and the supplier accepts assignment for that service. Specifically, the beneficiary signature requirements for submission of claims must be met for all Part A and Part B claims and apply to both provider and supplier claims, whereas the assignment of benefits requirements apply to providers and must be met to authorize Medicare to pay the provider rather than the beneficiary. In addition, the beneficiary does not need to assign benefits in any circumstance where assignment is mandatory. Thus, in most cases, a signed assignment of benefits is not needed.

Resource

CMS Internet Only Manual, Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 1, Section 50.1.6

 

Last Updated May 08 , 2023