Hospice providers must follow an important Medicare enrollment requirement related to the reporting of key leadership personnel. CMS clarifies that hospice administrators and medical directors must appear as managing employees on the CMS-855A Medicare Enrollment Application.
As a result, accurate enrollment information supports compliance and helps prevent unnecessary delays during application processing.
Who Must Be Reported as Managing Employees?
Under federal Medicare enrollment regulations, hospice administrators and hospice medical directors qualify as managing employees. Therefore, hospices must include their details in the organization’s Medicare enrollment records.
Situations Where Reporting Is Required
Hospice agencies must submit this information in several situations, including:
- Initial Medicare enrollment applications
- Revalidation requests
- Reactivation applications
- Change of Ownership (CHOW) filings
In addition, providing complete information during these processes ensures a smoother review by Medicare contractors.
Importance of Keeping CMS-855A Information Current
Incomplete enrollment records often trigger additional information requests from Medicare contractors. Consequently, this can extend processing times and delay approvals.
Therefore, maintaining updated records allows hospice organizations to avoid disruptions and remain compliant with Medicare requirements.
Where to Enter Managing Employee Information
Hospices must report administrators and medical directors in Section 6A: Ownership Interest and Managing Control Information of the CMS-855A form.
This section specifically captures individuals who hold management authority within the organization. Thus, accurate completion of this section remains essential for compliance.
What to Do When Personnel Changes Occur
Whenever a hospice experiences a change in its administrator or medical director, providers should submit a CMS-855A Change of Information application to update Medicare enrollment records.
Moreover, regularly reviewing enrollment data helps ensure that records always reflect the current management structure of the organization.
Staying Compliant With Medicare Enrollment Rules
Medicare enrollment requirements continue to evolve over time. Therefore, hospice agencies must monitor regulatory updates and maintain accurate organizational information. Proper reporting of managing employees strengthens compliance efforts and reduces the risk of administrative delays.
Sources and Regulatory References
- CMS Internet-Only Manual, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 10: Medicare Enrollment, Section 10.6.7.2: Individual Owning and Managing Information (PDF)
- 42 CFR § 424.502 Definitions