Medicare Participation Decision Deadline Extended

With the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 now signed into law, physicians have until Feb. 15 to make changes to their 2008 participation status in the Medicare program. The law postpones for six months the 10.1 percent cut in the Medicare conversion factor and instead provides for a 0.5 percent increase from Jan. 1 through June 30. But the conversion factor adjustment is not the only change affecting 2008 Medicare payment rates. Payment changes will vary by service, specialty and location based on several other factors. To become a participating physician, complete the CMS-460 form which can be found on the CD that was mailed to physicians in November. You can also request the form from PalmettoGBA. The form must be completed, signed, and mailed to PalmettoGBA and post-marked by February 15, 2008. If you are changing your participation status to non-participating, please send your request in a letter to PalmettoGBA, post-marked by February 15, 2008.