March 15, 2007
Medical Arts Press continued effort to provide us with up-to-date information on governmental legislation mandates, we would like to inform you that CMS has announced there are incorrectly formatted versions of the newly-revised CMS forms being sold by print vendors.
Due to this recent update, CMS has decided to extend the acceptance period of the CMS-1500 (12-90) Form from April 1, 2007 to a targeted date of June 1, 2007. Medicare contractors will be directed to continue to accept the CMS-1500 (12/90) Form until notified by CMS to cease.
Rest assured that MEDICAL ARTS PRESS FORMS ARE 100% COMPLIANT to CMS specifications.
The best way to identify if your CMS-1500 (08-05) Forms are correct is by looking at the upper right corner of the form. On properly formatted claim forms, there will be approximately a ¼” gap between the tip of the red arrow above the vertically tacked word “CARRIER” and the top edge of the paper. If the tip of the red arrow is touching or close to touching the top edge of the paper, then the form is not printed to specifications.
To help you identify which version is which:
OLD VERSION (12-90)
Contains “Approved OMB-0938-0008 FORM CMS-1500 (12-90)” on the bottom of the form (typically on the lower right corner) signifying it to be the December 1990 version.
REVISED VERSION (08-05)
Contains “Approved OMB-0938-0999 FORM CMS-1500 (08-05)” on the bottom of the form signifying it to be the August 2005 version. 
