Medicare is now requiring ordering physicians and practitioners of orthotics and prosthetics to be enrolled in the Internet-Based PECOS (Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership) system.

The PECOS system is a database of physicians and non-physician practitioners enrolled with Medicare; the system is being used in this instance to determine whether or not physicians who order these items are Medicare qualified to do so.

Physicians and practitioners who enrolled to work with Medicare prior to November 2003 and who have not made changes to their enrollment since then are probably NOT IN the PECOS system. Starting on July 6, 2010, orthotic and prosthetic claims will be DENIED if you are not enrolled in PECOS.

What's next??

For physicians and non-physician practitioners, there are three basic steps to completing an enrollment action using Internet-based PECOS.
Physicians and non-physician practitioners must:

1. Have an NPPES User ID and password to use Internet-based PECOS.

2. Go to Internet-based PECOS and complete, review, and submit the electronic enrollment application.

3. Print, sign and date the 2-page Certification Statement for each enrollment application submitted and mail the Certification Statement and all supporting paper documentation to the Medicare contractor within 7 days of electronic submission.

The Certification Statement must be signed by the physician or non-physician practitioner enrolling or making changes to enrollment information. Signatures must be original and in ink (blue ink recommended). Copied or stamped signatures will not be accepted.

Need more Information?

If you do not have an active web user account in NPPES, need to update your account information, or you have forgotten your USER ID/Password : visit NPPES

If you are having issue with your USER ID/Password and are unable to login, contact External User Services (EUS) Help Desk at 1-866-484-8049 or via email at EUSSUpport@cgi.com

PDF Downloads:

Internet-based PECOS Medicare Physician and Non-Physician Practitioners -- Protecting Your Privacy [PDF, 67 KB]

Internet-based PECOS -- Contact Information for Physicians and Non-Physician Practitioners [PDF, 40 KB]

Internet-based PECOS -- Getting Started Guide for Physicians and Non-Physician Practitioners [PDF, 108 KB]

Internet-based PECOS -- Enrollment Example [PDF, 1,525 KB]

Internet-based PECOS -- Getting Started Guide for Provider and Supplier Organizations [PDF, 75 KB]

Internet-based PECOS -- Provider and Supplier Organization Overview [PDF, 19 KB]