Incorrect Data Posted to the Common Working File

Published 07/27/2026

Incorrect Data Posted to the Common Working File (CWF)

Table 1.
Data Situation Situation Impact to Provider Resolution
Date of Death  Patient is deceased but date is incorrect. Payments for service dates after the posted date of death will be rejected. The claim will return to provider (RTP). 
  1. Health Care Provider Claims Errors
    1. If a Part A provider submits a claim that incorrectly reports an incorrect date of death, the provider can submit a claim adjustment to correct the date of death.
      1. Adjustment information is available in Change Request 14500, Medicare Beneficiary Date of Death - Manual Update (PDF) or the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Publication 100-04, Chapter 1, Section 210
         
  2. Date of Death Submitted by Family Member or Authorized Agent
    1. If a family member or authorized agent (i.e., funeral director) reports an incorrect date of death, the person or authorized agent responsible for reporting and the agency maintaining the patient’s eligibility record must correct the information before Medicare eligibility can be updated.
       
  3. Social Security Administration (SSA) or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Errors
    1. If SSA or RRB records contain an incorrect date of death, the agency responsible for maintaining the patient’s eligibility record must correct the information before Medicare eligibility can be updated.
    2. SSA or RRB can correct an incorrect date of death when the patient, family member or authorized representative notifies the appropriate agency and provides required documentation.
       
  4. Verify that the beneficiary’s eligibility records have been updated either through eServices or other beneficiary eligibility system.
     
  5. Retransmit/resubmit the claim.
Date of Death Patient is not deceased. Payments for service dates after the posted date of death will be rejected. The claim will RTP to the provider.
  1. Health Care Provider Claims Errors
    1. If a Part A provider submits a claim that incorrectly reports a date of death, the provider can submit a claim adjustment to remove the date of death.
      1. Adjustment information is available in Change Request 14500, Medicare Beneficiary Date of Death - Manual Update (PDF) or the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Publication 100-04, Chapter 1, Section 210
         
  2. Date of Death Submitted by Family Member or Authorized Agent
    1. If a family member or authorized agent (i.e., funeral director) reports an incorrect date of death, the person or authorized agent responsible for reporting and the agency maintaining the patient’s eligibility record must correct the information before Medicare eligibility can be updated.
       
  3. Social Security Administration (SSA) or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Errors
    1. If SSA or RRB records contain an incorrect date of death, the agency responsible for maintaining the patient’s eligibility record must correct the information before Medicare eligibility can be updated.
    2. SSA or RRB can remove a date of death if the patient is alive.
       
  4. Verify that the beneficiary’s eligibility records have been updated either through eServices or other beneficiary eligibility system.
     
  5. Retransmit/resubmit the claim.
Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Record Record shows on CWF as a valid primary insurer, but insurer information is incorrect.  Provider submits claim to the incorrect primary insurance.
  1. The beneficiary should contact the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Contractor at 855–798–2627 to request that the MSP records be corrected.
  2. Submit the claim to the correct primary insurance.
  3. Submit to Medicare for secondary payment consideration.
Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Record shows on CWF as a valid primary insurer, but Medicare should actually be primary. Provider’s claim is rejected indicating that the claim should be submitted to the other insurer first. 
  1. The beneficiary must contact the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Contractor at 855–798–2627 to request assistance with getting the record updated.
  2. MSP Contractor updates the record if it is determined that the record was invalid.
  3. Provider adjusts the original "Rejected" claim and transmits for primary payment from Medicare.

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