CMS eases provider enrollment screening for CA wildfires

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday suspended certain Medicare enrollment screening requirements for health care providers and suppliers assisting with wildfire recovery efforts in California. According to the agency, non-certified Medicare Part B physicians and other practitioners and suppliers can call a toll-free hotline (855-259-2396) to enroll in Medicare and receive temporary billing privileges the same day. “While we have heard from providers and suppliers that are willing and able to help, we know that by temporarily relaxing certain Medicare provider and supplier enrollment requirements, we can make the services of skilled professionals more readily available to those in need,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. CMS also announced additional time for certain Americans affected by recent hurricanes and the California wildfires to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. In other news, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today held a hearing on the federal response to the recent hurricanes.