05-02-2014, 02:33 AM
FYI, Medicare uses Social Security numbers. You can't bill MC without them.
Also, not all patients have insurance; it is helpful to have an identifier besides name and birthdate. And, believe it or not, patients with similar names, changed names, expired insurance, mistyped addresses, etc. do get mixed up, even with 'Name Alerts' in the software. We stored SSNs in our database. But I drew the line at charge-card numbers. Didn't want the responsibility.
Never had an insurance company ask for my health-insurance card, though. Not even for life insurance, which required a physical exam.
/Mr Lynn
Also, not all patients have insurance; it is helpful to have an identifier besides name and birthdate. And, believe it or not, patients with similar names, changed names, expired insurance, mistyped addresses, etc. do get mixed up, even with 'Name Alerts' in the software. We stored SSNs in our database. But I drew the line at charge-card numbers. Didn't want the responsibility.
Never had an insurance company ask for my health-insurance card, though. Not even for life insurance, which required a physical exam.
/Mr Lynn