Physical therapy practices may go through many changes over time—due to moving, merging, or other changes related to ownership. Medicare-enrolled providers need to apprise Medicare of most of these changes. Let's consider the responsibility of physical therapists in private practice (PTPPs) and of institutional providers to report ownership changes and other new information to Medicare.

Both PTPPs and institutional providers (such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and rehabilitation agencies) must inform Medicare within 30 days of any changes in ownership, control, or location. All other changes to Medicare enrollment must be reported within 90 days. These changes must be reported to their Medicare administrative contractor (MAC)—through either the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Form 855B.

The following 4 scenarios constitute change of ownership: