^{HCFA has new Form 855}

All new health care providers who want to enroll in the Medicare program will have to fill out a new form beginning this July.

The Health Care Financing Administration is changing its Form 855 to standardize enrollment, and to help government anti-fraud efforts. One feature of the new form is that a separate application must be submitted for each type of provider even if part of a larger organization. That means, for instance, that a hospital’s home health operation, outpatient facilities, and hospice would all need to submit separate forms.

The form also expands the type of information that providers must certify as true. This includes a requirement that the provider is not under any sanctions or otherwise prohibited from taking part in the Medicare program.