Practice Management Alert

If you work in the system on your doc's behalf,you-re putting his Medicare credentials at risk. While many practices that participate with Medicare are enthused about the opportunity to complete enrollment forms using the Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS), there is one big, little-known fact that is scaring the experts. If you-ve grown accustomed to a designated credentialing specialist in your practice or at an outside consulting group filling out your credentialing forms for you, it's time to eliminate that practice. Only the Physician Can Use PECOS In a recent Open Door Forum about PECOS, CMS officials stated that only the doctor can apply for his Medicare approval electronically via PECOS. CMS advises that the provider personally complete the online application. This means that the physician, even one in a large practice with a credentialing department, cannot designate another person to complete the application for him, explains [...]