Medicare participation enrollment period extended

1 December 2009
From the AMA Advocacy Update

The annual enrollment period in which physicians may switch from being Medicare participating physicians to non-participating physicians, or vice versa, has been extended from December 31, 2009 to January 31, 2010. Participating physicians agree to accept Medicare’s allowed charge as full payment for all claims. Non-participating physicians may bill patients up to 15 percent more than their Medicare allowed charge, which is only 95 percent of that for participating physicians. The Participation Agreement (CMS-Form 460) is available on the CD-ROM sent out annually by Medicare contractors and will also be made available on contractor websites. An AMA document outlining the advantages and disadvantages of participation versus non-participation or private contracting is available on the AMA web site at: www.ama-assn.org/go/medicarepaymentkit.