How Healthcare Providers Can Grant Surrogacy Access in PECOS for Credentialing Management

If you’re a healthcare provider and need to allow a credentialing service like pie Health to manage your Medicare enrollments, you must grant surrogacy access in the PECOS system. This guide explains how to determine if you’re set up as the Authorized Official (AO), what to do if you’re not, and how to complete the surrogacy process step by step.

Whether you’re one of our valued clients or simply a healthcare professional navigating PECOS, this article will guide you through the process.

Step 1: Determine Your Authorized Official (AO) Status

To grant surrogacy, you must be registered as the Authorized Official (AO) in PECOS. The AO is the person authorized to make legal decisions for your practice.

Not sure if you’re the AO? Here’s how to find out:

1. Log in to the Identity & Access Management (I&A) System at https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/IAWeb.
2. Go to the “My Profile” tab.
3. Scroll down to the Employer Information section.
   • If you’re listed as the AO for your organization, you’re ready to proceed.
   • If not, you’ll need to register as the AO (see Step 2).

Step 2: Register as an Authorized Official (if needed)

If you’re not already the AO in PECOS, follow these steps to register:

1. Log in to the I&A System (https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/IAWeb).
2. Go to the “My Profile” tab.
3. Scroll to the Employer Information section and select “Add Employer.”
4. Search for your practice using your NPI or Tax Identification Number (TIN).
5. Select Authorized Official as your role and submit the request.
6. Follow the instructions from CMS to verify your role.

Once approved, you can move on to granting surrogacy access.

Step 3: Log in to PECOS

1. Visit PECOS.
2. Enter your CMS credentials (the same as your I&A account).
3. Complete the multi-factor authentication process to access your account.

Step 4: Grant Surrogacy Access

1. After logging in, navigate to the “My Connections” tab.
2. Locate your organization in the list and click “Add Surrogate.”
3. Search for the credentialing company (e.g., pie Health) by entering their NPI (provided by pie Health or the credentialing service).
4. Select the appropriate business functions, such as PECOS and NPPES.
5. Confirm and submit the request.

Step 5: Approve the Surrogacy Request

1. CMS will send you an email notification about the surrogacy request.
2. Log back into the I&A System (https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/IAWeb).
3. Approve the pending request in the “My Connections” section.

FAQs

Q: What if I don’t know my PECOS or I&A login credentials?
A: Use the “Forgot User ID” or “Forgot Password” links on the login page to recover your account information.

Q: Can multiple providers in my group assign surrogacy?
A: Yes. Each provider must grant access individually for their Medicare information.

Q: Who can I contact for help?
A: Contact the CMS External User Services (EUS) Help Desk:

• Phone: 1-866-484-8049
• Email: EUSSupport@cgi.com