During the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), physicians and other providers who previously would have had to complete a CMS-855 Medicare enrollment application were granted temporary provider transaction access numbers, or PTANs (a form of temporary provider enrollment that can be obtained by phone from Medicare Administrative Contractors). The lifting of the PHE on May 11 means that physicians and other providers who had relied on temporary PTANs for their Medicare enrollment will have to revert back to the normal process of completing a CMS-855 enrollment application.   

Medicare contractors began issuing letters to that effect on June 1. Physicians and other providers will have 90 days from the date of the letter to submit their CMS-855 enrollment application. The temporary PTANs will remain in effect for the duration of the 90 days.

Medicare contractors will accept CMS-855 enrollment applications by paper or through the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS). If using PECOS, please select the revalidation option and validate that all sections are complete and accurate. Noridian, California’ Medicare contractor, will assign a permanent PTAN once processing is complete. 

Practices with questions can reach out to the Noridian Provider Contact Center (855) 609-9960.