Jim Bossenmeyer, CMS's director of provider and supplier enrollment, was on hand for several sessions at the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) conference last week (see last week's blog post). Having spoken to Bossenmeyer several times, I can tell you he tends to be hostile with the press and rarely indulges in interviews. He was joined by Louise M. Joy, a health care lawyer with Joy & Young LLP in Austin, Texas. Together they offered a slew of tips on enrollment, though Bossenmeyer refused to shed any light on whether CMS is reconsidering a highly unpopular policy: allowing only providers themselves to access online PECOS enrollment.
"I think you need to go through the press office," Bossenmeyer said curtly when I asked him about other CMS officials who said the policy may be overturned (see story: CMS may let third parties enroll using PECOS). When I pointed out that he was in charge of enrollment and would have a better idea than the press office, Bossenmeyer said, "I really think you should go through the press office." This reporter can take a hint.
Bossenmeyer and Joy did share tips for how to enroll more efficiently, which subscribers can read in full on the Part B News Web site. We'll also run these tips in the April 6 print issue of Part B News. Here's a sampling:
- Use Internet-based PECOS, which is now available for physicians and NPPs in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. territories. "From what we've seen ... the time to process an [online] application has been less than 25 days so far," Bossenmeyer said. "Which is significantly faster than what we informed the public. We said 50% faster, this is actually faster than that."