The Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) Update

CMS is delaying the implementation of a system designed to authorize Medicare to monitor and reject claims for services and supplies from physicians or health care professionals not enrolled in the Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain Ownership System (PECOS). This delay means the new policy will not be implemented until April 5, 2010

Initiated in October of 2009, the enrollment period for PECOS was originally scheduled to conclude in January 2010. The delay stems from protests that these new procedures are negatively affecting healthcare professionals who were enrolled in Medicare before the 2003 creation of the PECOS database who are legitimately offering services to patients.

The delay will give physicians and practitioners who order items or services for Medicare beneficiaries or who refer Medicare beneficiaries to other Medicare providers or suppliers sufficient time to enroll in Medicare or take the action necessary to establish a current enrollment record in Medicare prior to Phase 2 implementation.

More information can be found here.