A medical administrative assistant receives correspondence from a third-party payer stating that a claim has been denied due to an incorrect subscriber number. Which of the following actions should the assistant take

Billing the patient prematurely could lead to dissatisfaction and confusion, especially if the claim denial was due to an administrative error. It is essential to resolve the issue with the insurance carrier before considering billing the patient, as they should not be held responsible for mistakes in the claim process.

While it is important for the patient to have accurate information, having them contact the insurance carrier can complicate the resolution process. The administrative assistant should first confirm the information themselves to ensure accuracy and to better assist the patient with any necessary follow-up actions regarding the claim.

Contacting the employer may not be the most efficient first step, as it could delay the resolution and adds an unnecessary layer to the process. The assistant should focus on confirming the subscriber number from the patient's own records before reaching out to external parties, streamlining the resolution process.