FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CMS Announces Transition of DMEPOS Enrollment Appeals and Rebuttals to National Provider Enrollment Contractors; HealthBridge US Outlines Operational Support Availability
Los Angeles, CA – May 8, 2026 — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a structural change in the submission process for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) provider enrollment appeals and rebuttals. Effective Friday, May 8, 2026, all DMEPOS enrollment appeals and rebuttals must be submitted directly to the appropriate National Provider Enrollment (NPE) contractor based on jurisdiction, replacing prior submission handling processes managed by Chags Health Information Technology, LLC (C-HIT).
CMS confirmed that Thursday, May 7, 2026, will serve as the final date C-HIT will accept DMEPOS enrollment appeals and rebuttals. Submissions received prior to the transition date will continue to be reviewed and adjudicated under existing procedures. Questions regarding the transition may be directed to CMS at ProviderEnrollmentARC@cms.hhs.gov.
HealthBridge US is issuing a neutral summary of the operational update and outlining areas of potential administrative impact for DMEPOS suppliers and healthcare organizations adapting to the new submission structure.
OVERVIEW OF CMS TRANSITION
The updated CMS directive transfers responsibility for DMEPOS enrollment appeals and rebuttals to two designated National Provider Enrollment contractors:
This transition centralizes provider enrollment appeal and rebuttal processing under jurisdiction-based contractors, aligning submission workflows with existing Medicare enrollment administration structures.
The change affects all DMEPOS suppliers submitting appeals or rebuttals related to enrollment determinations, including but not limited to application denials, revocations, revalidations, and other enrollment-related determinations under Medicare supplier standards.
CMS has indicated that this transition is part of ongoing efforts to streamline provider enrollment operations and improve consistency in adjudication timelines, communication pathways, and jurisdictional accountability.
NPEAST JURISDICTION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Suppliers located within the NPEast jurisdiction must submit all DMEPOS enrollment appeals and rebuttals to:
Contractor: Novitas Solutions, Inc
The NPEast jurisdiction includes the following states and territories:
Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
All DMEPOS suppliers operating within these regions must direct appeals and rebuttals exclusively to the designated NPEast contractor channels effective May 8, 2026.
NPWEST JURISDICTION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Suppliers located within the NPWest jurisdiction must submit all DMEPOS enrollment appeals and rebuttals to:
Contractor: Palmetto GBA
The NPWest jurisdiction includes the following states and territories:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
All providers and suppliers within these regions are required to route enrollment appeals and rebuttals through the NPWest contractor beginning May 8, 2026.
TRANSITION FROM C-HIT PROCESSING
CMS confirmed that Chags Health Information Technology, LLC (C-HIT) will no longer accept new DMEPOS enrollment appeals and rebuttals after Thursday, May 7, 2026.
However, CMS stated that C-HIT will continue to review and issue determinations for any appeals and rebuttals that were submitted prior to the transition deadline. This ensures continuity of adjudication for cases already in process while the administrative transition to NPE contractors is completed.
The agency has advised stakeholders to ensure that all submissions are properly routed to avoid processing delays, particularly during the transition period when submission errors or misrouted documentation may result in extended adjudication timelines.
OPERATIONAL IMPACT ON DMEPOS SUPPLIERS
The transition to NPEast and NPWest contractors introduces several operational considerations for DMEPOS suppliers, billing entities, and compliance teams.
Submission Routing Accuracy
Suppliers must ensure that all appeals and rebuttals are submitted to the correct contractor based on geographic jurisdiction. Misrouting submissions may result in delays, rejection, or requirement to resubmit under correct channels.
Workflow Adjustments
Organizations may need to update internal enrollment and compliance workflows to reflect the new submission pathways, including revisions to standard operating procedures (SOPs), billing department protocols, and credentialing documentation processes.
Communication Channel Updates
Existing communication templates, contact directories, and escalation procedures may require revision to align with updated email addresses, fax numbers, and mailing addresses for both NPEast and NPWest contractors.
Compliance Monitoring
DMEPOS suppliers must ensure that internal compliance monitoring systems reflect updated CMS requirements to avoid submission errors and maintain adherence to Medicare enrollment standards.
HEALTHBRIDGE US CONSULTING SUPPORT
HealthBridge US provides consulting support to healthcare organizations, DMEPOS suppliers, and Medicare-enrolled entities navigating administrative and regulatory changes related to CMS provider enrollment processes.
In response to the transition of DMEPOS enrollment appeals and rebuttals to NPE contractors, HealthBridge US offers structured advisory support focused on operational readiness, compliance alignment, and administrative workflow optimization.
ENROLLMENT PROCESS TRANSITION SUPPORT
HealthBridge US assists organizations in reviewing and updating internal enrollment workflows to reflect CMS jurisdiction-based submission requirements. This includes mapping current appeal and rebuttal processes against the new NPEast and NPWest contractor structure to ensure accurate routing of documentation.
Support may include evaluation of submission pathways, identification of operational gaps, and alignment of internal procedures with CMS-defined jurisdictional requirements.
DOCUMENTATION AND COMPLIANCE ALIGNMENT
Healthcare organizations may require updates to documentation protocols to reflect new submission standards. HealthBridge US provides guidance on structuring enrollment documentation, maintaining audit-ready records, and ensuring compliance with CMS DMEPOS supplier standards.
This includes ensuring that appeals and rebuttals are supported by complete and properly formatted documentation consistent with contractor expectations.
ADMINISTRATIVE WORKFLOW OPTIMIZATION
The transition to contractor-based processing may require updates to administrative workflows across enrollment, billing, and compliance departments. HealthBridge US supports organizations in redesigning internal processes to improve submission accuracy, reduce administrative delays, and enhance coordination between departments responsible for Medicare enrollment activities.
STAFF TRAINING AND IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT
HealthBridge US provides advisory support for staff training related to updated CMS submission requirements. This includes orientation on jurisdictional distinctions, contractor contact procedures, and proper routing of appeals and rebuttals under the new system.
Training support is designed to reduce submission errors and ensure consistency across administrative teams responsible for Medicare enrollment processes.
REGIONAL IMPACT CONSIDERATIONS
Given the nationwide scope of the DMEPOS supplier network, the transition affects providers across all U.S. states and territories. Organizations operating in multiple jurisdictions may experience increased complexity in submission routing and compliance tracking.
HealthBridge US notes that multi-state suppliers may require enhanced internal controls to ensure correct classification of appeals and rebuttals by jurisdiction, particularly for organizations with distributed billing or centralized enrollment departments.
CMS CONTACT INFORMATION
For questions regarding the transition, CMS has directed stakeholders to:
Additional information regarding Medicare provider enrollment policies can be accessed through CMS resources.
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES
ABOUT HEALTHBRIDGE US
HealthBridge US is a healthcare consulting organization specializing in Medicare regulatory compliance, provider enrollment strategy, operational readiness, and healthcare system process optimization. The organization supports providers, suppliers, and healthcare entities in adapting to evolving federal healthcare policies and administrative requirements.
