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Last Modified: 4/18/2024 Location: FL, PR, USVI Business: Part A, Part B

Physician assistant (PA)

Qualification requirements

Physician assistants (PA) must meet all of the following criteria to provide services for Medicare beneficiaries:
Licensed by the state in which he or she practices as a physician assistant
Graduate of a PA educational program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistants (or its predecessor agencies) or passed the national certification examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants

Documentation requirements and recommendations

Completed CMS-855I form external pdf file
Note: To expedite the processing of your provider enrollment application, you may use the internet-based PECOS external link, which will automatically select the appropriate form and allow you to complete the application process online.
Signed and dated certification statement -- all signatures must be original and signed in ink (blue ink preferred). Stamped, faxed, or copied signatures will not be accepted.
Note: If you submitted your application through internet-based PECOS, you may sign the application electronically or you must submit your paper certification statement within 15 days of your electronic submission.
Include copies of the following supporting documents:
A notarized copy or a certified “true copy” of the practitioner’s state medical license:
A notarized copy must include the stamp that states “official seal” and the name of the notary public as well as the state, county, and date the notary’s commission expires.
A certified “true copy” of an original document has a raised seal that identifies the state and county in which it originated or is stored.
Note: A provider or supplier located in Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands must include a copy of his or her Letter of Good Standing. The letters for Puerto Rico providers and suppliers will be considered valid if it was issued within 12 months of First Coast’s receipt of the enrollment application. The letters for U.S. Virgin Islands providers and suppliers will be considered valid if it was issued within six months of First Coast’s receipt of the enrollment application.
Certificate of completion, transcript, or diploma from accredited educational program(s) required for certification or licensure (please refer to Qualification requirements section at the top of the page.)
Note: Prior to January 1, 2022, payment for the PA’s services could only be made to the PA’s employer. Pursuant to the CY 2022 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, a PA may:
Individually enroll in Medicare (e.g., as a sole proprietorship, professional corporation)
Receive direct payment for his or her services
Establish PA groups (e.g., LLCs)
Reassign his or her benefits to their employer
To show a reassignment, a PA will still complete Section 2I with the employer, entity, or supplier information. If the PA will not be reassigning his or her benefits and will be individually enrolling or establishing a PA group, Section 2I will not be required.

Additional documentation requirements (when applicable)

Medicare may require additional documentation, when applicable, to validate key information contained within the enrollment application (e.g., name change, tax identification number, proof of citizenship) or to address specific issues that could adversely affect a practitioner’s potential eligibility for enrollment (e.g., adverse legal actions, financial relationships).
Driver’s license
Social Security card
Marriage license
U.S. passport
NPI verification from National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) -- only durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers are required to submit this type of documentation
Final adverse action documentation: Please include copies of legal documents associated with any final adverse action(s) taken against the provider as well as copies of any legal documents showing its resolution (e.g., notifications, reinstatement letters).
Note: Documents containing a summary of the adverse actions taken or their resolution will not be accepted.

Reimbursement

Physician assistants are reimbursed from the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) at 85 percent of the rate allowed when a physician performs the service, subject to a 20 percent coinsurance. See https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/Downloads/clm104c12.pdf external pdf file, section 110.
First Coast Service Options (First Coast) strives to ensure that the information available on our provider website is accurate, detailed, and current. Therefore, this is a dynamic site and its content changes daily. It is best to access the site to ensure you have the most current information rather than printing articles or forms that may become obsolete without notice.