government
Medicare retools online enrollment for doctors
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 21, 2011
The online system physicians use to enroll in the Medicare program was upgraded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in January, the agency announced.
A health care professional now can track an enrollment application made through CMS' Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System, known as PECOS. The new application status module on the website shows when a physician's application was received and reviewed by a Medicare contractor, and if the application was returned, approved or rejected.
Also, physicians now have 15 days to submit the paperwork required once they sign up under PECOS. Previously, the agency required submission of supporting documents within seven days.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/03/21/gvbf0321.htm.