Medical billing is a complex procedure, including numerous steps, numbers, and codes. The entire procedure is crucial to the efficient operation of medical practices since it influences the amount of money earned and repaid. Therefore, the information on the medical claim form must be comprehensive, accurate, and complete. A medical claim form contains all of the pertinent information for the insurance company on the treatment rendered. The insurance company might deny or cancel the claim if the required information is missing or incorrect. If this occurs, you must either cancel or modify the claim. Each claim sent to Medicare is assigned a tracking number known as an internal control number (ICN). You must be wondering: what is an ICN number? Continue reading this article, as it intends to discuss the ICN number in great detail. From ICN number definition to the various aspects related to this claim identifier are presented in this post.
What is an ICN Number
What is an ICN number? ICN number is a claim identifier comprising 18 digits used to track claims. The ICN identifies the claim. Depending on the system’s configuration, you can manually enter ICNs throughout the claim entry process. ICNs are visible when investigating a claim because they are shown in a banner at the top of the screen.
ICN Number Definition
An Internal Control Number (ICN) is defined as a unique tracking number assigned to a submitted medical claim for medical billing. The insurance payer assigns this number to every medical claim.
Importance of Control Numbers
The claim identification (ICN) number is called CCN (Claim Control Number). It is a 14-digit number provided to each Medicare claim for processing. The first five digits of the Medicare claim number show the date Medicare received the claim. The organization uses the Julian calendar. The Julian date will consist of the first two digits of the year, followed by the days of the year). The sixth digit specifies whether the claim was submitted manually (on paper) or electronically. The final number of a claim indicates whether it is a new or existing claim with modifications. The claim has been amended if the final number is more than one.
Breakdown of ICN Number
Below, we explain the significance of each digit (from 1 to 13) in the 17-digit ICN number.
- The first two digits indicate how the claim was submitted (electronically or manually)
- The third and fourth digits in the ICN indicate the year the claim was initially submitted.
- The fifth, sixth and seventh digits indicate the year in which the claim was submitted.
- The Medicare contractor provided the numbers 8 through 13 in an unprecedented manner.
- The digits from eighth to thirteenth are the ones (a unique set of numbers) that the Medicare contractor provided
Considering the example of the following claim number: 1119100351480.
- The third and fourth digits are 1 and 9, respectively. This indicates that the claim was received in the year 2019.
- The fifth, sixth and seventh digits are 100, representing that the claim was received on the 100th day.
Medicare received the claim on April 10, 2019, as identified from the above ICN number.
It is essential to pay specific attention to the claims and the American National Standards Institute regulations (ANSI). The claim comments are placed at the end of the first line in the “MOA” field. The meaning of each code is specified at the bottom of the remittance. The ANSI codes are listed directly below the group code at the bottom of each line item (CO, PR, or OA). At the bottom of the remittance advice is a series of explanations. Both the ANSI code and the Group code are referred on this series. The codes will explain why a claim was paid or denied and any other relevant claim information.
ICN number is extremely important in medical billing. Before a claim deemed invalid, modified, or replaced can be sent again, it must have an ICN number. Insurance payers will utilize the ICN number associated with the claim to identify it uniquely.
The number is on the payer’s explanation of benefits so that claims can be monitored. If a claim was modified and resubmitted, and the payer requires the ICN from the posted explanation of benefits, you may be required to file the claim as a Replacement for a Prior Claim. Alternatively, if the claim is invalid, you may be required to resubmit it as a Void/Cancel Prior Claim. You must consult with your payer to determine what is required.
See Also: CPT Code 99465 – Delivery/birthing Room Resuscitation
Conclusion
In medical billing, ICN stands for Internal Control Number. Every submitted medical claim receives this unique tracking number from the insurance payer. A veteran’s ICN is a 17-digit number that is both unique and distinct. The claim is invalid if it lacks an ICN number.Outsourcing medical billing is one of the greatest ways to ensure that the billing process is done without errors. The major benefits of outsourcing medical billing include a lower error rate, lower expenses (compared to in-house medical billing), increased revenues and reimbursem*nts, and a greater emphasis on providing patients with safe, high-quality care.
Precision Hub is one of the leading medical billing companies that work with you to optimize billing and coding procedures. We strive to make healthcare more efficient, transparent, and effective for everyone by delivering organized workflows and tech-enabled solutions that result in improved claim acceptance, more growth, and quicker reimbursem*nts. Book your free demo with us today and find out how we can assist you in enhancing your practice’s revenue.
As an expert in medical billing with extensive knowledge and practical experience, I can attest to the complexity and importance of the medical billing process in the efficient operation of healthcare practices. The accuracy and completeness of information on medical claim forms are critical factors that influence the financial aspects of medical practices. In this context, I will provide a comprehensive overview of the concepts mentioned in the article.
ICN Number Definition: The Internal Control Number (ICN) is a crucial element in medical billing, serving as a unique identifier for tracking claims. Comprising 18 digits, the ICN is assigned to each submitted medical claim and plays a vital role throughout the claim entry process.
Importance of Control Numbers: The ICN is sometimes referred to as the Claim Control Number (CCN) in the context of Medicare claims. This 14-digit number is assigned to every Medicare claim for processing. The first five digits of the CCN indicate the date Medicare received the claim, using the Julian calendar, where the first two digits represent the year, and the following digits denote the days of the year. The sixth digit indicates whether the claim was submitted manually or electronically, and the final digit signifies whether it is a new or modified claim.
Breakdown of ICN Number: The breakdown of the 17-digit ICN number is explained, highlighting the significance of each digit from 1 to 13. This breakdown includes details such as how the claim was submitted (electronically or manually), the year of initial submission, and additional digits provided by the Medicare contractor.
Role of ICN in Claims Processing: The ICN number is emphasized as a critical component in claims processing. Its unique nature allows insurance payers to identify and monitor claims. The article provides an example of an ICN number, breaking down the digits to illustrate how information about the claim submission date can be derived.
ICN in Medical Billing Workflow: The article underscores the importance of the ICN in the medical billing workflow. Before a claim can be resubmitted or modified, it must have an ICN number. The ICN is utilized by insurance payers to uniquely identify claims and is featured on the payer’s explanation of benefits for monitoring purposes.
Use of ANSI Codes: The article briefly mentions the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) codes in relation to remittance advice. These codes are crucial in explaining why a claim was paid or denied, providing essential information for understanding the status of claims.
Conclusion and Outsourcing Benefits: In conclusion, the article summarizes that ICN stands for Internal Control Number, emphasizing its significance in medical billing. It notes that an invalid claim lacks an ICN number. The article also touches on the benefits of outsourcing medical billing, highlighting advantages such as lower error rates, reduced expenses, increased revenues, and improved focus on patient care.
In the realm of medical billing, precision and attention to detail are paramount. The ICN serves as a linchpin in the process, and understanding its nuances is essential for healthcare practitioners and billing professionals.
