US · guidance
CMS Pub. 100-16, ch. 4, § 110.2.2
Provider Directory Updates
MAOs are expected to update directory information any time they become aware of
changes. All updates to the online provider directories are expected to be completed
within 30 days of receiving information. Updates to hardcopy provider directories must
be completed within 30 days, however, hardcopy directories that include separate
updates via addenda are considered up-to-date.
MAOs should contact their network/contracted providers on a quarterly basis to update
the following information in provider directories:
• Ability to accept new patients;
• Street address;
• Phone number; and
• Any other changes that affect availability to patients.
MAOs should contact providers using a method that is likely to achieve the highest
response rate. It is not sufficient to determine that a group practice is accepting new
patients. Outreach does not apply to entities such as hospitals.
All providers listed in hard copy or online directories must have current contracts to
participate in the MA plan network. Directories provided during the AEP for the
upcoming plan year are expected to fairly represent the network for the upcoming plan
year.
Note: Employer/Union-only Group Waiver Plans (EGWP) may direct enrollees to their
employer for information on the available providers. Employer/Union-only Group
Waiver Plans (EGWP) must comply with the same requirements that are applicable to all
MA and PDP plans regarding the provision of hard copy and online directories.
History
(Rev. 121, Issued: 04-22-16, Effective: 04-22-16, Implementation: 04-22-16)
Provenance
- Source
- cms.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-08-25
- Edition
- iom-2026-08-25
- Content hash
aad0b102fa8e646c45e05e9affe6756628a5c8a2f1793f50c6d5b68e122ab5fc
The link goes to the issuing authority’s own document — the one we read to produce this record. Where a source publishes whole titles rather than sections, your browser may need a moment to jump to the provision.
Unofficial copy of government-published law, reproduced from official sources with full provenance. Not an official publication; verify against official sources before relying on it in a filing. Records in the 'guidance' corpus, and only that corpus, are sub-regulatory (interpretive guidelines, survey procedures) and are not binding law. Validity bounds follow each jurisdiction's declared temporalBasis.