Do Not Forward (DNF) - JE Part B
Do Not Forward (DNF)
Most payment disruptions can be avoided by submitting a change of information application to Provider Enrollment within 30 days of the address change.
Background
The Do Not Forward initiative was implemented by CMS to help prevent fraud. Medicare contractors are required to use "Return Service Requested" envelopes for all special payments, remittance notices, and overpayment demand letters that are mailed to providers. Return service requested means that the Post Office cannot forward the mail to a different address. The mail is returned to the Medicare contractor.
When a special payment or remittance notice is returned by the Post Office, the Medicare contractor is required to put a Do Not Forward flag on the provider record. The provider’s payments are then held until the special payments address is updated with the Medicare contractor.
Additionally, if the provider is receiving payments electronically, and the contractor receives notification from the bank that the account information is not valid, the Medicare contractor is required to put a Do Not Forward flag on the provider record.
What Should a Provider Do?
The provider should submit a change of information application right away. The paper forms CMS 855B for Clinics, Group Practices, and Certain Other Suppliers, the CMS 855I for Individual Practitioners, and the CMS 588 Authorization Agreement for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), along with the updated voided check or bank letter, must be mailed to Provider Enrollment.
The EFT form is required for changing the bank account information for electronic deposits. In some cases, a provider might need to submit both the application to change the address and the application to change the bank account information.
Using PECOS to submit a web application for initial enrollments, and for making changes to existing enrollments is considered a best practice and recommended by Provider Enrollment.
After the change of information application is completed by Provider Enrollment, the Do Not Forward flag is ended, and held payments are released to the provider.
