CMS Extends Deadline for Choosing Medicare Participation Status to February 14, 2012

Physicians now have until February 14, 2012 to choose their Medicare participation status for the year. The previous deadline was December 31, 2011. The effective date for any participation status change during the extension, however, remains January 1. If you feel you have to stop taking new Medicare patients in anticipation of the payment March 1, 2012 scheduled cut, share your disappointment with your representatives. MSNJ will keep physicians updated on the situation once Congress returns from its holiday recess in early January.