CMS Pub. 100-08, ch. 10, § 10.2.1.2

A. General Background Information

A CORF is a facility established and operated at a single fixed location exclusively for the

purpose of providing diagnostic, therapeutic, and restorative services to outpatients by or under

the supervision of a physician. Specific examples of such services include:

• Physician services (*)

• Physical therapy (*)

• Occupational therapy

• Respiratory therapy

• Speech pathology

• Social work or psychological services (*)

• Prosthetic/orthotic devices

• Lab services (must meet 42 CFR Part 493 requirements)

(* Services that the CORF must provide)

In addition:

• If the state determines that sufficient functional and operational independence exists, a CORF

may be able to share space with another Medicare provider. However, the CORF may not

operate in the same space at the same time with another Medicare provider. (See Pub. 100-

07, chapter 2, sections 2364 - 2364C for more information.)

• Like most certified providers, CORFs must be surveyed by the state agency and must sign a

provider agreement.

• On occasion, an outpatient physical therapy/speech language pathology location might

convert to a CORF; prior to enrolling in Medicare, however, it must be surveyed to ensure

that the CORF conditions of participation are met.

B. Processing Instructions for CORF Initial Form CMS-855A Applications

1. Receipt of Application

Upon receipt of a CORF initial Form CMS-855A application, the contractor shall undertake the

following (in whichever order the contractor prefers unless directed otherwise in this chapter):

(A) Perform all data validations otherwise required per this chapter.

(B) Ensure that the application(s) is complete consistent with the instructions in this chapter.

(C) Ensure that the CORF has submitted all documentation otherwise required per this chapter.

For CORF initial enrollment, this also includes the following:

• Form CMS-1561 (Health Insurance Benefit Agreement, also known as a “provider

agreement”)

• Evidence of successful electronic submission of the Form HHS-690 through the Office of

Civil Rights (OCR) portal, as applicable. (Evidence should be either written or electronic

documentation.) (See https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/forms/hhs-690.pdf for more

information.)

(The CORF must complete, sign, date, and include the Form CMS-1561, though the CORF need

not complete those sections of the form reserved for CMS. For organizational CORFs, an

authorized official (as defined in § 424.502) must sign the form; for sole proprietorships, the sole

proprietor must sign.)

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Form CMS-1561 or the Form HHS-690 evidence is

missing, unsigned, undated, or otherwise incomplete, the contractor need not develop for the

form(s) or the information thereon; the contractor shall instead notify the state in its

recommendation letter which document(s) was/were missing or otherwise incomplete. For all

other missing or incomplete required documentation, the contractor shall follow the normal

development instructions in this chapter.

2. Conclusion of Initial Contractor Review

(Nothing in this section 10.2.1.2(B) prohibits the contractor from returning or rejecting the

CORF application if otherwise permitted to do so per this chapter. When returning or rejecting

the application, the contractor shall follow this chapter’s procedures for doing so.)

(A) Approval Recommendation

If, consistent with the instructions in section 10.2.1.2(B)(2) and this chapter, the contractor

believes an approval recommendation is warranted, the contractor shall send the

recommendation to the state pursuant to existing practice and this chapter’s instructions. The

contractor need not copy the SOG Location or PEOG on the recommendation. Unless CMS

directs otherwise, the contractor shall also send to the provider the notification letter in section

10.7.5.1(E) of this chapter.

The state will: (1) review the recommendation package for completeness; (2) review the

contractor’s recommendation for approval; (3) perform any state-specific functions; and (4)

contact the contractor with any questions. The contractor shall respond to any state inquiry in

Item (4) within 5 business days. If the inquiry involves the need for the contractor to obtain

additional data, documentation, or clarification from the CORF, however, the timeframe is 15

business days; if the provider fails to respond to the contractor within this timeframe, it shall

notify the state thereof. The contractor may always contact its PEOG BFL should it need the

latter’s assistance with a particular state inquiry.

(B) Denial

If the contractor determines that a denial is warranted, it shall follow the denial procedures

outlined in this chapter. This includes: (1) using the appropriate denial letter format in section

10.7.8 of this chapter; and (2) if required under section 10.6.6 (or another CMS directive) of this

chapter, referring the matter to PEOG for review prior to denying the application.

3. Completion of State Review

The state will notify the contractor once it has completed its review. There are two potential

outcomes:

(A) Approval Not Recommended

If the state does not recommend approval, it will notify the contractor thereof. (The contractor

may accept any notification that is in writing (e-mail is fine).) The site visit described in

subsection (D)(1) below need not be performed. No later than 5 business days after receiving

this notification, therefore, the contractor shall commence the actions described in section

10.2.1.2(B)(2)(B) above.

(B) Approval Recommended

If the state recommends approval, it will typically (though not always) do so via a Form CMS-

1539; the contractor may accept any documentation from the state signifying that the latter

recommends approval. (Note that the contractor will not receive a formal tie-in notice.)

No later than 5 business days after receipt of the recommendation from the state, the contractor

shall order the site visit described in subsection (D)(1) below.

If the CORF fails the site visit, the contractor shall follow the denial procedures addressed in

subsection (B)(2)(B) above. If the CORF passes the site visit, the contractor (within 3 business

days of completing its review of the results) shall send an e-mail to

MedicareProviderEnrollment@cms.hhs.gov with the following information and documents:

• The Form CMS-855 application (or PECOS Application Data Report) and all application

attachments

• A copy of the Form CMS-1539 or similar documentation received from the state

• A copy of the provider-signed Form CMS-1561

• A copy of the draft approval letter, with the effective date shown on the Form CMS-1539 (or

similar documentation) included in the draft letter. (See section 10.7.5.1 for the model

approval letter.)

PEOG will countersign the provider agreement. Based on the information received from the

contractor, PEOG will also (1) assign an effective date, (2) assign a CCN, and (3) enter the

applicable data into ASPEN, and (4) approve (with possible edits) the approval letter. Within 5

business days of receiving from PEOG the signed provider agreement, effective date, and CCN,

the contractor shall: (1) send the approval letter and a copy of the CMS-countersigned provider

agreement to the CORF; (2) send a copy of both the approval letter and the provider agreement

to the state and/or AO (as applicable)); and (3) switch the PECOS record from “approval

recommended” to “approved” consistent with existing instructions.

C. Offsite Locations – Initial Enrollment Applications

Notwithstanding the “single fixed location” language cited in section 10.2.1.2(A) above, there

may be isolated cases where CMS or the state permits a CORF to have an offsite location. This

typically arises if the CORF wants to provide physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech

language pathology services away from the primary location. (This is permitted under 42 CFR §

485.58(e)(2)). The offsite location would not necessarily be separately surveyed but would be

listed as a practice location on the CORF’s initial Form CMS-855A application.

D. Site Visits

1. Initial application - The scope of the site visit will be consistent with sections 10.6.20(A) and

10.6.20(B) of this chapter. The NSVC will perform the site visit. The contractor shall not

convey Medicare billing privileges to the provider prior to the completion of the NSVC’s site

visit and the contractor’s review of the results.

2. Revalidation – If a CORF submits a revalidation application, the contractor shall order a site

visit through PECOS. This is to ensure that the provider is still in compliance with CMS’s

enrollment requirements. The scope of the site visit will be consistent with sections 10.6.20(A)

and 10.6.20(B) of this chapter. The NSVC will perform the site visit. The contractor shall not

make a final decision regarding the revalidation application prior to the completion of the

NSVC’s site visit and the contractor’s review of the results.

3. New/changed location - If a CORF is (1) adding a new location or (2) changing the physical

location of an existing location, the contractor shall order a site visit of the new/changed location

through PECOS new/changed location through PECOS no later than 5 business days after the

contractor receives the approval recommendation from the state but before the contractor sends

to PEOG the applicable e-mail described in section 10.6.1.2(A)(3) of this chapter. (See the latter

section for more information.) This is to ensure that the new/changed location is in compliance

with CMS’s enrollment requirements. The scope of the site visit will be consistent with sections

10.6.20(A) and 10.6.20(B) of this chapter. The NSVC will perform the site visit. The contractor

shall not make a final decision regarding the change of information application prior to the

completion of the NSVC’s site visit and the contractor’s review of the results.

E. CHOWs and Changes of Information

For CORF CHOWs, the contractor shall follow the instructions in section 10.6.1.1 of this

chapter. For CORF changes of information, the contractor shall follow the instructions in section

10.6.1.2 of this chapter.

F. Additional Information

For more information on CORFs, refer to:

• Section 1861(cc) of the Social Security Act

• 42 CFR Part 485, Subpart B

• Pub. 100-07, chapter 2

• Pub. 100-07, Appendix K

• Pub. 100-02, Benefit Policy Manual, chapter 12