CMS-855A: Medicare Enrollment for Institutional Providers
Medicare enrollment application for institutional providers including hospitals, CAHs, hospices, home health agencies, federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and similar entities.
Primary source
CMS-855A Form — CMS.gov →https://www.cms.gov/medicare/cms-forms/cms-forms/downloads/cms855a.pdf
Verified May 23, 2026 · This is the authoritative regulator URL. The summary below is a research aid; the linked source controls.
The CMS-855A is the Medicare enrollment application for institutional providers — Part A providers including hospitals, critical access hospitals (CAHs), skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospices, comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities (CORFs), end-stage renal disease facilities, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), rural health clinics (RHCs), religious nonmedical health care institutions, and outpatient physical/occupational therapy/speech-language pathology providers.
Key sections: legal business and DBA names, TIN, type of organization (proprietary, nonprofit, government, religious), CCN if applicable, Medicare survey/accreditation status (CMS region, state agency, deemed accrediting organization), services to be furnished, ownership and management at 5%+, practice locations, billing agencies, and adverse legal history.
Institutional providers undergo a CMS survey or deemed-status accreditation review as part of the conditions of participation/coverage. Enrollment cannot be completed until the survey or accreditation evidence is on file with the state survey agency.
Revalidation is every 5 years. Change of ownership requires a new application and triggers a Tie-In notice from the CMS Regional Office. Failure to file a CHOW timely is a recurring source of payment interruption.
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Related regulations
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Related across the archive
- RegulationCMS-855B: Medicare Enrollment Application for Clinics and Group PracticesThe Medicare enrollment application for clinics, group practices, and certain other suppliers — the primary enrollment vehicle for medical practices that bill Part B.
- RegulationCMS-855I: Medicare Enrollment Application for Individual Physicians and Non-Physician PractitionersIndividual Medicare enrollment vehicle for physicians, NPPs, and certain other individual suppliers; required for any clinician billing Medicare under their own name.
- RegulationCMS-855S: DMEPOS Supplier EnrollmentMedicare enrollment application for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies suppliers, with heightened standards including accreditation and surety bond.
- GlossaryCAQH CredentialingThe CAQH ProView database used by most commercial payers to credential providers.
- GlossaryCMS-855 (Medicare Enrollment Application)Family of Medicare enrollment applications: 855A (institutional), 855B (group), 855I (individual), 855O (ordering/referring), 855R (reassignment).
- GlossaryCredentialingThe process by which a payer verifies a provider's qualifications and grants participation in the network.
- GlossaryDeactivationRemoval of a provider from Medicare's enrollment file, typically for failing to revalidate, billing inactivity, or final adverse action.
- GlossaryHospital CredentialingThe process by which a hospital medical staff verifies and grants privileges to a physician.
Last reviewed May 23, 2026 · Citation verified May 23, 2026
Research aid, not legal advice. This summary is an administrative research aid prepared by D3rx. It does not certify compliance, provide legal advice, replace counsel, or guarantee an audit outcome. For authoritative regulatory text follow the primary source link at the top of this page. The practice remains responsible for reviewing, adopting, and maintaining its compliance program.