Ask Mary | May 2024

Is PECOS enrollment required for hospice services?  

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be implementing a new requirement for physicians who certify terminal illness. Originally, CMS had planned an effective date of May 1, 2024; however, implementation has been delayed until June 3, 2024. Once effective, CMS will deny hospice claims if the physician entered in the Attending field on the claim is not in the Provider Enrollment Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) as an enrolled or opted-out physician.