What does the acronym PECOS stand for?

The acronym PECOS stands for Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System. This system is essential for the enrollment of healthcare providers in Medicare and Medicaid programs. It allows for efficient processing and management of provider enrollment applications. Understanding PECOS is crucial for managing the healthcare provider's participation in government programs, which can impact revenue and compliance within a practice.

The elements within the acronym highlight the importance of tracking the providers, their relationships, and ownership interests to prevent fraud and ensure accountability in healthcare services. This system helps maintain the integrity of the healthcare system by making it easier to verify provider credentials and ownership information.

The other options use terms related to patient and care but incorrectly attribute those to the acronym PECOS, diverging from its actual purpose centered around provider enrollment and ownership.