P.O. boxes no longer permitted as billing provider address
Beginning in 2012, clinicians will no longer be permitted to use post office boxes or lock boxes as billing provider addresses.
In 2012, physicians and providers will be required to transition to version 5010 transactions standards for all electronic claims submissions. CMS announced that it will delay the enforcement of the version 5010 implementation until March 31, 2012.
In addition to other changes that vendors, billing services, or clearinghouses may be making to physician practices' management systems, clinicians will no longer be permitted to use post office boxes or lock boxes as billing provider addresses. Instead, all practices will be required to use a street address or physical location. If a practice wishes to continue having payments sent to a post office box or lock box, that address can be entered in the additional “Pay-to” address field.
Additional information about the transition to version 5010 is available from CMS and on the College website.