Verify Bank Account Information

Verify Bank Account Information National Government Services receives numerous electronic funds transfer banking rejections each year due to frozen or closed bank accounts. To prevent interruption in Medicare payment, billing providers verify [...]

Electronic Funds Transfer Form and Instructions

Electronic Funds Transfer Form and Instructions To initiate the EFT process, you will need to complete the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Authorization Agreement (CMS-588). By signing the CMS-588 form, you are certifying the account is in [...]

Electronic Funds Transfer

Electronic Funds Transfer EFT allows for claim payments to be electronically transferred to your bank in place of a hard copy check mailed to the facility. Medicare payments due a provider or supplier of services may be sent to a bank (or [...]

Acknowledgement Email

Acknowledgement Email Upon receipt of your application submission, the contact person (identified on application) will receive an email confirmation from: CustomerService-DoNotReply@cms.hhs.gov containing the PECOS web tracking number. [...]

Requests for Additional information

Requests for Additional information While processing the application(s), National Government Services may determine additional information is needed. All requested information should be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days [...]

Site Visits

Site Visits Site visits may be required and will be unannounced; the contractor representatives must disclose to the provider appropriate identifying credentials and explain the purpose of the visit. CMS has implemented a site visit [...]

Paper Enrollment Process

Paper Enrollment Process Enrollment via paper is an option, but PECOS is the preferred method to process the application with streamlining features. Paper-based enrollment applications are available. Determine which CMS Paper Form you will [...]

Supporting Documents

Supporting Documents Attach required supporting documentation for individuals or organizations. Submit all applicable documents: CMS-588 EFT Authorization Agreement and voided check or bank confirmation letter IRS document confirming your [...]

Requests for Additional Information

Requests for Additional Information While processing the application(s), National Government Services may determine additional information is needed. All requested information should be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days [...]

Interactive Voice Response System

Interactive Voice Response System You may check the status of your provider enrollment application (PECOS or paper) submissions via the IVR by: Case number/web tracker id or NPI and TIN combination Related Content Interactive Voice [...]

Check Provider Enrollment Application Status

Check Provider Enrollment Application Status You may run simple search queries to retrieve and view the status of your CMS-855 application via two options. Case number/web tracker id NPI and TIN combination Related Content Check [...]

PECOS Self-Service Application Status

PECOS Self-Service Application Status You may run simple search queries to retrieve and view the status of your PECOS application. Individual ‒ View the enrollment application status of an individual provider in an organization or private [...]

Approval or Denial

Approval or Denial Approval Once your application is approved, you will receive an emailed, faxed or mailed Medicare letter with PTAN. Review this letter to ensure that everything is accurate and if you have any questions, please contact the [...]

Approval or Denial

Approval or Denial Approval Once your application is approved, you will receive an emailed, faxed or mailed Medicare letter with PTAN. Review this letter to ensure that everything is accurate and if you have any questions, please contact the [...]

Accelerated Payment Program Available for Providers Impacted by the Ascension Health Cyber Related Incident (CRI)

Accelerated Payment Program Available for Providers Impacted by the Ascension Health Cyber Related Incident Part A Providers experiencing cash flow problems related to Ascension Health CRI, which began on 5/8/2024, may be eligible for [...]

Medicare Information in Other Languages

Medicare Information in Other Languages Download Medicare & You in Spanish, 中文/Chinese, TIẾNG VIỆT/Vietnamese or 한국어/Korean. Español/Spanish  中文/Chinese  한국어/Korean  TIẾNG VIỆT/Vietnamese   Reviewed 6/13/2024

Sign and Submit the Application(s)

Creating application in PECOS

Creating Application in PECOS Instructions to create an application in PECOS: Login to PECOS My Associates Create Initial Enrollment Application Note: There will be a series of questions to determine application descriptions tailored to [...]

Requests for Additional Information

Requests for Additional Information While processing the application(s), National Government Services may determine additional information is needed. All requested information should be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days [...]

PECOS Enrollment Process and Advantages

Medical Review: Targeted Probe and Educate Review Topics

Medical Review: Targeted Probe and Educate Review Topics Prevent technical denials by ensuring your medical records are legible and include a valid, legible provider signature. If you notice the provider signature is illegible when asked to [...]

Targeted Probe and Educate Educational Videos

Targeted Probe and Educate Educational Videos   Video Description Targeted Probe and Educate Learn more about the TPE Program.   Additional educational information can be found on our Events page and [...]

Targeted Probe and Educate Review Topics

Targeted Probe and Educate Review Topics Prevent technical denials by ensuring your medical records are legible and include a valid, legible provider signature. If you notice the provider signature is illegible when asked to supply medical [...]

Medical Review: Targeted Probe and Educate Review Topics

Jurisdiction K Part A Targeted Probe and Educate: Medical Review Topics Topic CPT Code(s) Common Denials Resources Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (includes epidermis and dermis, if performed) 11042, 11045 [...]

Targeted Probe and Educate Review Topics

Targeted Probe and Educate Review Topics Prevent technical denials by ensuring your medical records are legible and include a valid, legible provider signature. If you notice the provider signature is illegible when asked to supply medical [...]

Targeted Probe and Educate Review Topics

Targeted Probe and Educate Review Topics Prevent technical denials by ensuring your medical records are legible and include a valid, legible provider signature. If you notice the provider signature is illegible when asked to supply medical [...]

Medical Review: Targeted Probe and Educate Review Topics

Jurisdiction K HHH Targeted Probe and Educate: Medical Review Topics Topic CPT Code(s) Common Denials Resources Home Health Medical Necessity N/A 55H3V– The documentation did not support the medical [...]

Best Practices for a Successful Targeted Probe and Educate Review

Best Practices for a Successful Targeted Probe and Educate Review Table of Contents Getting Started With TPE Notification Letter During the Review Process Post-Probe/Review Results Letter Prepare for Post-Probe Education [Return to [...]

MLN Connects® Newsletter: June 20, 2024

MLN Connects Newsletter: June 20, 2024 News CMS Preparing to Close Program that Addressed Medicare Funding Issues Resulting from Change Healthcare Cyber-Attack Federal Study Examines Care Following Nonfatal Overdose Among Medicare [...]

How to Prevent Common Skilled Nursing Facility Denials

How to Prevent Common Skilled Nursing Facility Denials This article was developed to increase awareness and educate SNFs on the top errors found by our Medical Review team. The information below includes suggestions to ensure documentation [...]

Proper Medicare Part B Claim Submissions Due to the Change Healthcare Security Incident

Proper Medicare Part B Claim Submissions Due to the Change Healthcare Security Incident With many providers submitting paper claims due to the Change Healthcare security incident, it is important to submit your claims correctly. Failure to do [...]

Join Us for ‘Real Time” with CMS Chicago

Join Us for ‘Real Time' with CMS Chicago The CMS Chicago LEA would like to invite you to our “Real Time” with CMS Chicago, a bi- weekly webinar that occurs on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of every Month at 9 a.m. CT. These 30-minute calls are [...]

SNFs: Missing Medicare Health Insurance Claim Number on Minimum Data Set Can Cause Potential Claim Denials

SNFs: Missing Medicare Health Insurance Claim Number on Minimum Data Set Can Cause Potential Claim Denials Our Medical Review department has noted many cases where the HIC number is missing from the MDS that is in the repository. MDS Overview [...]

Billing Reminder: When a Skilled Nursing Facility Payment Ban is in Effect

Billing Reminder: When a Skilled Nursing Facility Payment Ban is in Effect CMS may impose a DPNA against the SNF when the facility is not in compliance with the requirements of participation under the Social Security Act at Sections 1819(h) [...]

Get Your PS&R Reports

Table of Contents Get Your PS&R Reports Register to Receive the PS&R Report Instructions on How to Use Redesign Detail Reports [Return to Top] Get Your PS&R Reports The PS&R report is a tool used by Part A providers [...]

Get Your PS&R Reports

The PS&R report is a tool used by Part A providers and MACs to prepare and process Medicare cost reports. Table of Contents Register to Receive the PS&R Report Instructions on How to Use Redesign Detail Reports [Return to Top] [...]

Request a Due Date Extension

It may be necessary to request an extension for your cost report due date because of an extraordinary circumstance. An example of an extraordinary circumstance would be a flood or fire that forces a provider to cease operations and transfer [...]

Request a Due Date Extension

It may be necessary to request an extension for your cost report due date because of an extraordinary circumstance. An example of an extraordinary circumstance would be a flood or fire that forces a provider to cease operations and transfer [...]

Reminders for the New Hospice Certifying Physician Claim Edit Effective 5/1/2024

Reminders for the New Hospice Certifying Physician Claim Edit Effective 5/1/2024 Effective for hospice claim "From" dates on or after 5/1/2024, CMS implemented edits to enforce a new rule that would deny hospice claims if the certifying [...]

Top Claim Errors Have Been Reviewed and Updated

Top Claim Errors Have Been Reviewed and Updated Our top claim errors are updated on a quarterly basis to reflect current information. Visit Top Claim Errors under Resources > Claims and Appeals to learn what you can do to avoid claim [...]

Receive and Respond to Audit and Reimbursement Correspondence via NGSConnex

Table of Contents Receive and Respond to Audit and Reimbursement Correspondence via NGSConnex What are the benefits? [Return to Top] Receive and Respond to Audit and Reimbursement Correspondence via NGSConnex National Government [...]

Home Office Cost Statements

A home office of a chain organization is a related organization to its participating providers. Home offices usually furnish central management and administrative services, e.g., centralized accounting, purchasing, personnel services, [...]

MLN Connects® Newsletter: May 9, 2024

MLN Connects® Newsletter: May 9, 2024 News HHS Releases New Data Showing Over 10 million People with Medicare Received a Free Vaccine Because of the President’s Inflation Reduction Act; Releases Draft Guidance for the Second Cycle of [...]

Submission of a Medicare Cost Report Reopening Request

Submission of a Medicare Cost Report Reopening Request In accordance with CMS policy (42 Code of Federal Regulations 405.1885 and CMS IOM Publication 15-1, The Provider Reimbursement Manual, Section 2931), a provider may request a reopening of [...]

CMS Medicare Administrative Contractor Information

CMS Medicare Administrative Contractor Information Note: Please do not include PHI such as Medicare numbers within emails. Navigation [Part A] [Part B] [DME MAC] [Federally Qualified Health Center] [Home [...]

Physicians: Are You Ordering Knee Orthosis for Your Patients?

Physicians: Are You Ordering Knee Orthosis for Your Patients? This is your opportunity to hear directly from the Medicare contractors regarding documentation required for the coverage criteria to be met. You’ll also learn how to help your [...]

Staying Up To Date on Vaccines

Staying Up To Date on Vaccines It's important to stay up to date on vaccines. Vaccines protect your patients from serious illness and can keep them out of the hospital. Talk with your patients about which vaccines may be right for them, many [...]

Hospice Certifying Physician Medicare Enrollment Information

Hospice Certifying Physician Medicare Enrollment Information Under CMS' current regulations, the hospice medical director or the physician member of the hospice interdisciplinary group (the “hospice physician”) and the attending physician (if [...]

File an Amended Cost Report

Table of Contents File an Amended Cost Report Timeframe to Amend the Medicare Cost Report [Return to Top] File an Amended Cost Report A provider may elect to submit an amended cost report subsequent to the initial filing. The Centers [...]

Prepare and Submit a Cost Report

Table of Contents Prepare and Submit a Cost Report Submit Cost Report Documentation MCReF Other Electronic Media Formats Electronic Filing Requirements and List of Vendors Approved XML IRIS Vendors Home [...]

File an Amended Cost Report

A provider may elect to submit an amended cost report subsequent to the initial filing. The CMS Medicare Paper-Based Manuals Publication 15-1, Provider Reimbursement Manual—Part I, Chapter 29 Section 2931.2A, allows the Medicare Administrative [...]

MLN Connects® Newsletter: April 25, 2024 (UPDATE)

MLN Connects® Newsletter: April 25, 2024 (UPDATE) Editor's Note: CMS updated a message because we delayed the effective date that physicians who certify hospice services must enroll in or opt-out of Medicare until 6/3/2024. You may have to [...]

What is NGSConnex?

What is NGSConnex? NGSConnex is a free, secure, web-based application developed by National Government Services just for you! NGSConnex provides access to a wide array of self-service functions that save you time and money, such as: Obtain [...]

LCD and Article Updates for April/May 2024

LCD and Article Updates for April/May 2024 Billing and Coding Articles Billing and Coding: Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Primary Refractory or Relapsed Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma with B-cell or T-cell Origin (A59311) [...]

National Government Services Proposed LCDs for Comment (4/25/2024-6/8/2024)

National Government Services Proposed LCDs for Comment (4/25/2024-6/8/2024) The proposed LCDs listed below are being presented for comment for the Jurisdiction 6 and Jurisdiction K MACs. The formal comment period extends from 4/25/2024 through [...]

Request an Accelerated Payment

Medicare Part A guidelines provide for accelerated payments under highly exceptional circumstances. Accelerated payment criteria and eligibility requirements are outlined in the CMS Paper-Based Manuals Publication 15-1, Medicare Provider [...]

PS&R/Cost Report Crosswalk

PS&R/Cost Report Crosswalk Did you know you have access to crosswalks between the PS&R Summary Report and the Medicare cost report? Our Medicare Audit and Reimbursement Department created crosswalk tools for hospitals and [...]

Request an Interim Rate Adjustment

When requesting an interim rate adjustment, it's important to submit your interim financial data to National Government Services using the appropriate Interim Rate Review Documentation Request Form. These forms are designed to capture important [...]

Request an Interim Rate Adjustment

When requesting an interim rate adjustment, it's important to submit your interim financial data to National Government Services using the appropriate Interim Rate Review Documentation Request Form. These forms are designed to capture important [...]