Authored by Ceetee Sheckels in Health Care
Published on 12-23-2009
For those who love paperwork and helping people, becoming a medicare provider can be enjoyable and interesting. If you are thinking about offering this service, the most important point to keep in mind is that you must learn the rules and follow them to the letter. This way, you will avoid any unnecessary problems and difficulties, and make this venture a rewarding experience.
Learning and following the rules does not need to be intimidating, but it does need to be taken seriously. Both the federal government and the state have regulations which must be adhered to for this field. The first priority on your list should be to familiarize yourself with these laws. As each state is different, be sure to check the policies which are specific to the state where you live.
Preparing to become a medicare provider requires some paperwork. You can begin by applying for an NPI number. You can apply for this National Provider Identifier number through a short online form. You should apply for, and receive, a business license from your state. Depending upon your particular situation, you can request a license as sole proprietor of your business, a partnership, or a corporation. As there are benefits and requirements associated with each, you must familiarize yourself with these and determine which one applies to you.
You will also locate the medicare carrier specific to your state. They will provide you with an application, and help you in filling it out if necessary. You need to know in advance the type of practice you will be working for, as this affects whether you will be dealing with Medicare part A, part B, part C, or part D. A drug-enforcement administration certificate is also required. Additional paperwork needed in order to become a medicare provider is the standard W9 form from the IRS. You can find the W9 form on the Internal Revenue Service website, or pick one up from your local IRS office. Obtaining certification as a medicare provider also requires a civil rights obligations clearance. This is to ensure that providers adhere to the proper standards and ethics of their practice. It is beneficial to both the providers and the people whom they serve.
When all of this paperwork is complete, it must be mailed or taken to the medicare carrier. It is important for you to keep copies of all of these documents.
Although becoming a medicare provider is an option for many health care practitioners, some do not consider it because they think it will be too difficult or require too much extra work. Neither of these concerns are valid. Becoming a medicare provider does not take much effort, just commitment and dedication to providing the very best services to your patients. When you become a medicare provider, you will be extending a very helpful service to your patients. The time you put into it can ease your patients’ financial worries and help to make their lives better. It will certainly be time well spent.
