For several months, the NCMS and the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (NCAPA) have been actively involved in making sure that the Division of Medical Assistance (DMA) moves forward with the proper rulemaking processes in requiring direct enrollment for physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). The latest effort included sending a rulemaking petition to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

This week, DMA responded to the petition stating that “the agency is hereby granting your petition, and will initiate rulemaking proceedings to address this issue in the near future.” View the correspondence here. At this time, DMA is rewriting all of their provider enrollment rules and determining if any rules can be repealed, amended or adopted. The proposal will be shared with the NCMS, NCAPA and the general public upon completion.

This is a huge victory for the Society and the NCAPA. If Medicaid were to move forward without making these requirements clear, the impact on mid-level providers would be uncertain. After months of continually asking DMA and DHHS to follow the appropriate rulemaking processes, if the requests in the petition are met, PAs and NPs along with their practices will have a better understanding of what will be required of them when they are asked to directly enroll. The NCMS and NCAPA will continue to work closely with DMA and DHHS on this issue. Updates will be provided in upcoming issues of the Bulletin.

Related Bulletin articles:
Medicaid Enrollment for PAs Delayed Once Again Until Further Notice (6-1-12)
They Just Aren’t Getting It: Medicaid Again Announces Enrollment Deadline for PAs and NPs (5-5-12)
Update on Medicaid’s Move to Require Direct Enrollment of PAs (3-2-12)
Physician Assistant Medicaid Enrollment Update (11-4-11)
Physician Assistants, Hold Your Medicaid Enrollment Applications! (10-7-11)
DMA Announces Requirement To Direct Enroll PAs and NPs (9-16-11)