Requesting Medicare Real Time Eligibility through ePS

Beginning in 2026, ALL providers must attest and enroll in the HETS (HIPAA Eligibility Transaction System) to verify Medicare beneficiary eligibility.  As part of this change, CMS is requiring all providers, both existing and new enrollees, to complete an online attestation directly with their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC).

Providers will need a valid provider login for your MAC to complete this step.

• If you do not have a login or have issues with it, please reach out to your MAC for assistance.

To complete the attestation, you will need the following:

• The name of the person who is authorized to sign on your organization's behalf.
• The email address for the authorized signer.
• Your PTAN (Provider Transaction Access Number).
• The NPI associated with the PTAN.
• Effective date of your relationship with your vendor (should be the current date).
• Vendor information:
  • HETS Trading Partner/Submitter ID: VQAS
  • Submitter/Trading Partner Name: Inovalon

To complete the attestation:

1. Navigate to https://www.cms.gov/data-research/cms-information-technology/hipaa-eligibility-transaction-system-hets/hets-edi-how-enroll.
2. If you do not know who your local MAC is, there is a PDF listed under Resources that will help you identify them, or here is a link to a map of MAC regions.
   
   
   
3. Once you have your MAC information, select Enrollment Information for Providers.
   
   
4. When the screen opens, you will be shown 2 steps.
   1. Step 1 - Work with your vendors or clearinghouses:
      1. Identify relationships - Inovalon
      2. Inovalon unique ID - VQAS
   2. Step 2 - Request access to HETS
      1. Ensure you have collected the information listed above under "To complete the attestation, you will need the following:"
      2. Scroll down until you see the name of your MAC
      3. Press on the name of your MAC to be taken to their enrollment page. 
         
         
         
5. The EDI Enrollment Tool for your specific MAC will open.  It will ask for the information that you collected.
   
   
   
6. The HETS-EDI Enrollment Tool will walk you through the registration process.