The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published an interim final rule that will change the implementation date of the internet-based provider enrollment chain and ownership system (PECOS) to July 6, almost 6 months before than the already established January 2011 deadline. CMS cited provisions contained in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed earlier this year as a reason for the earlier implementation..
The date change comes as a surprise to durable medical equipment orthotic and prosthetic supplies (DMEPOS) providers who have experienced several delays in the implementation of the system.
The implementation date does not include a grace period for claims based on prescriptions from referring physicians who have yet to enroll in PECOS.
According to Kathy Dodson, senior director of government affairs for American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, the general consensus among the O&P community is that the combination of an earlier deadline coupled with the lack of a grace period, has placed additional pressure on practitioners to inform their referring physicians of the date change.
James Bossenmeyer, director for the division of provider and supplier enrollment at CMS contends that CMS is intensifying its outreach to physicians.
“We have been doing more education and outreach, such as direct mailing, since October,” Bossenmeyer told O&P Business News.
CMS is currently in the process of receiving comments in response of the rule that was published in the federal register, according to Bossenmeyer. He has encouraged individuals, including O&P organizations, to comment.
“As soon as we receive those comments, we will be carefully reviewing those documents and responding in a final decision,” Bossenmeyer told said.
The comment period concludes July 6. Please read the July issue of O&P Business News for expanded coverage with perspective about PECOS.
