What happens when a provider changes ownership of Medicare?
When a provider undergoes a change of ownership, a transfer of the Medicare agreement goes to the new owner unless the new owner rejects the existing agreement. If the new owner rejects the agreement, the CHOW is considered an initial enrollment for the new owner.
What happens to your NPI when you sell a Medicare provider?
In this situation, Medicare will never pay the applicant for services the prospective provides before the date on which the provider qualifies for Medicare participation as an initial applicant. Depending on the terms of the sale, the Buyer/Transferee may obtain a new NPI or maintain the existing NPI.
What does it mean to assume a Medicare provider agreement?
New owner accepts existing Medicare agreement Accepting assignment of the existing provider agreement means the new owner is subject to all terms and conditions under the existing agreement. The new owner receives the benefits of assuming the Medicare provider agreement, such as receiving any underpayments discovered after the CHOW.
What happens when the new owner accepts the provider agreement?
Upon accepting the provider agreement, the new owner accepts the terms and conditions under which it was originally issued.
What happens if a provider is assigned to a CHOW?
In a CHOW, the existing provider agreement is automatically assigned to the Buyer/Transferee. If the Buyer/Transferee does not explicitly reject automatic assignment before the transfer date, the provider agreement is automatically assigned, along with the CCN, effective on the transfer date. The assigned agreement is subject to all applicable statutes and regulations and to the terms and conditions under which it was originally issued. Among other things, this means that the contractor will continue to adjust payments to the provider to account for prior overpayments and underpayments, even if they relate to services provided before the sale/transfer. If the Buyer rejects assignment of the provider agreement, the Buyer must file an initial application to participate in the Medicare program. In this situation, Medicare will never pay the applicant for services the prospective provides before the date on which the provider qualifies for Medicare participation as an initial applicant.
Does a merger of a corporation constitute a change of ownership?
The transfer of corporate stock or the merger of another corporation into the provider corporation does not constitute change of ownership. The most common example of a CHOW occurs when a provider’s CMS Certification Number (CCN) and provider agreement are transferred to another entity as a result of the latter’s purchase of the provider.
Can a buyer/transferee use a NPI?
Depending on the terms of the sale, the Buyer/Transferee may obtain a new NPI or maintain the existing NPI. After CHOW processing is complete, the Seller/Transferor will no longer be allowed to bill for services (i.e., services furnished after CHOW processing is complete) and only the Buyer is permitted to submit claims using the existing CCN. It is ultimately the responsibility of the old and new owners to work out between themselves any payment arrangements for claims for services furnished during the CHOW processing period.
What happens when a provider changes ownership?
When a provider undergoes a change of ownership, a transfer of the Medicare agreement goes to the new owner unless the new owner rejects the existing agreement. If the new owner rejects the agreement, the CHOW is considered an initial enrollment for the new owner.
Who is assigned to the provider agreement in a soup?
In a CHOW, the existing provider agreement is automatically assigned to the buyer/transferee:
What does it mean to accept assignment of a provider agreement?
Accepting assignment of the existing provider agreement means the new owner is subject to all terms and conditions under the existing agreement. The new owner receives the benefits of assuming the Medicare provider agreement, such as receiving any underpayments discovered after the CHOW. However, the new owner also assumes all penalties and sanctions under the Medicare program, including repayment of any accrued overpayments discovered, regardless of who had ownership of the Medicare agreement at the time of the overpayment unless fraud was involved. When fraud is involved, in any fiscal year the previous owner had assignment, responsibility for the repayment of fraudulent overpayments remains with the previous owner.
Can a new owner accept Medicare?
New owner does not accept existing Medicare agreement. If the new owner refuses to accept assignment of the previous owner’s Medicare agreement, the new owner must enter into its own Medicare agreement as a product of their initial enrollment into the Medicare program.
Can a buyer/transferee use a NPI?
Depending on the terms of the sale, the buyer/transferee may obtain a new NPI or maintain the existing NPI. After CHOW processing is complete, the seller/transferor will no longer be allowed to bill for services (i.e., services furnished after CHOW processing is complete) and only the buyer is permitted to submit claims using the existing CCN. It is ultimately the responsibility of the old and new owners to work out between themselves any payment arrangements for claims for services furnished during the CHOW processing period.