Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP)

Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) is the term used to describe when another payer is responsible for paying a beneficiary's claims before Medicare pays. Noridian protects and preserves the Medicare Trust Fund by ensuring that Medicare benefits are coordinated with all other appropriate payers and Medicare pays only when and what it should pay.

Effective June 19, 2026, providers will have the capability through the Noridian Medicare Portal (NMP) to submit Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) adjustment requests. Similar to the appeals process, supporting documentation must be uploaded, and MSP has up to 45 calendar days to respond.

Use the MSP Form Submission feature for requests such as:

  • Not related to no-fault, workers’ comp, liability, and Medicare Set-Asides
  • Medicare paid primary or secondary in error
  • Incorrect MSP type (2-digit) submitted on previously processed claim

A confirmation number is provided upon submission and supports improved processing efficiency and reduced administrative burden. Save time with this electronic submission of the MSP correspondence and no mailing or faxing required.

Do not use for non-MSP redeterminations, new CMS-1500 claim submission, refunds, Veteran’s Administration (VA), TRICARE PACMED, or U.S. Family Health Plan (USFHP) cases.

Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center (BCRC), GHP - View crossover claim related information

BCRC, NGHP - View when to contact BCRC and what they are unable to assist with

Billing MSP Electronically - View Noridian Electronic Data Interchange Support Services (EDISS) guide that illustrates proper claim submission for Medicare as the secondary payer

Billing MSP via CMS-1500 Paper Form - View elements required when submitting paper claim forms for Medicare as the secondary payer

MSP Definitions - View common MSP terms and definitions

MSP Types - View a list of MSP types and definitions

MSP Payment Calculation Examples - View scenarios which include primary insurance company's payment, provider's billed amount, Medicare's allowed amount, deductible, coinsurance and Medicare's payment

New process for MSP claims rejected with CARC 16 - View updated instructions for CARC 16

Obligated to Accept Field (OTAF) - View an explanation of how to determine OTAF

Remittance Errors and Solutions - View claim denial errors by MSP reason codes

Tertiary Claims - View instructions for billing MSP claims when Medicare is third payer - More than One Primary Payer with Different Allowed Amounts

Resources

Last Updated Jun 15 , 2026