A dentist who chooses not to participate must enter into a private contract with each Medicare beneficiary to whom they provide items or services that are or may be covered by Medicare (even when the Medicare payment is capitated or when Medicare pays an organization for the doctor’s services for the doctor. If you still want to see an opt-out provider, you and your provider can set up payment terms that you both accept through a private contract. You may be able to opt out of Medicare retroactive coverage by contacting the Social Security Administration. Keep in mind that your opt-out decision prevents you from receiving Medicare reimbursement for a period of two years (after which you will need to go through the process again).
Whatever option you have made, you have a responsibility to keep your patients informed about their position and how they will be affected. If you have a patient who would like to receive a Medicare-covered service, who fully understands that they have opted out of the program and are willing to pay out of pocket, you must enter into a private contract with the patient, in accordance with the ADA. If your office has chosen not to enroll in Medicare (which only means that you exclude yourself from your right to bill Medicare and can charge patients whatever you want, not that you are completely free of Medicare), your office will no longer receive reimbursement for Medicare-covered services. If you choose not to do anything, it is not opting out or opting out, you will put your patients at risk of having any prescription you write rejected.
If you are one of 3 to 4 percent of the 186,000 practicing dentists who signed up as Medicare providers and decided to continue to opt for it, things will continue as usual for you. Certain doctors and other health care providers who don’t want to work with the Medicare program may “opt out of Medicare.” A doctor or other provider who chooses to opt out must do so for 2 years, which is automatically renewed every 2 years, unless the provider requests not to renew your exclusionary status. Certain doctors and other health care providers who do not want to work with the Medicare program may choose not to participate in Medicare. Search this database by first name, last name, national provider identifier (NPI), specialty, or zip code to find providers who have opted out of Medicare.
If your office has opted out of Medicare enrollment (which only means that you exclude yourself from your right to bill Medicare and can charge patients whatever you want, not that you are totally free of Medicare), your office will no longer be reimbursed for Medicare-covered services. If you’re not sure if a provider has opted out of Medicare, you may want to check it out to know ahead of time if you’ll have to pay out of pocket for your care. These oral exams would be covered by Part A if performed by a dentist on hospital staff or by Part B if performed by a dentist after a doctor has diagnosed these diseases. Proactive communication is always recommended, especially if they hear from a friend or family member who has had problems with other dentists.
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