Compare FMSs
This tool helps you compare and prepare questions. It is guidance to discuss with your team, not a decision made for you.
Ask an FMS your questions
Pick the FMSs you're considering and up to 5 questions from the stock set. We'll draft the email for you.
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Thinking about switching your FMS?
You have the right to switch at any time, and there are two very different ways to do it. Switching at your annual plan renewal is far easier. Switching mid-year can be done, but it takes careful planning. Either way, employees re-enroll with the new FMS (their DDS background check can transfer), and providers who don't already work with the new FMS may need to sign up.
Switching mid-year? Plan it carefully.
If you stay a Sole Employer, you remain the employer of record, so your current and new FMS must coordinate payroll and tax reporting. Because of that, some FMSs only allow Sole Employer transfers at the end of a payroll-tax quarter (March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31), so ask both FMSs about any timing restrictions. In the Co-Employer model the employer of record changes from one FMS to the other, which makes the payroll and tax transition more straightforward.
Before a mid-year switch you'll need three things: a final spending plan showing the balance left with your current FMS, including any final invoices for services given before the transition even if not yet billed; a new spending plan for the remaining budget so your regional center can issue new POS authorizations to the new FMS; and a clear transition date shared with your whole team.
Complete employee and provider onboarding before that date. No one starts at the new FMS until onboarding is confirmed, and services provided before the transition still bill to the former FMS. Done this way, there is no gap in services.
Switching FMS at your annual plan renewal
Every fact tells you where it came from, and when
Any FMS list can fall out of date: including this one. That's why each answer here carries its source and date, so you know exactly how much to trust it.