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Compliance·7 min read

CMS-0057-F: a Provider Directory API checklist for plans

The seven FHIR Plan-Net resources, the four endpoints regulators actually probe, and what to test before a CMS reviewer points it out.

Published March 14, 2026 · InsureLytix Editorial

What CMS-0057-F requires of a Provider Directory API

Impacted payers (MA organizations, Medicaid, CHIP, QHPs on FFEs) must implement and maintain a Provider Directory API conformant with the HL7 FHIR DaVinci PDex Plan-Net implementation guide, R4. Public access, no authentication required for read, with documented endpoints.

The seven resources

  • Practitioner — the individual provider's identity and credentials.
  • PractitionerRole — the link from a Practitioner to an Organization, Location, specialty, and network.
  • Organization — the group practice, hospital system, or plan.
  • Location — physical address, hours, geographic position.
  • HealthcareService — what services the organization or practitioner provides.
  • InsurancePlan — the plan's product itself, with associated networks.
  • Endpoint — the technical contact for electronic exchange (used for Endpoint references in Organization).

Endpoints regulators actually probe

  • /.well-known/smart-configuration — the SMART Backend Services discovery document. If this 404s, expect a finding.
  • /metadata — the CapabilityStatement. It must enumerate every supported resource and search parameter.
  • /Practitioner?name=… — the textbook search; SearchParameter conformance is the easiest place to fail.
  • /Practitioner/$export — Bulk Data Export. NDJSON streaming, async polling, signed URLs with TTLs.

Test it before they do

Run ONC Inferno's PDex Plan-Net suite against the deployed endpoint, not a staging environment that drifts. We do this on every release and ship the report to the customer.

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