Changes to the Medicare Opt-Out Law for Physicians and Practitioners

Prior to enactment of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), physician and practitioner opt-out affidavits were only effective for two years. As a result of changes made by MACRA, valid opt-out affidavits signed on or after June 16, 2015, will automatically renew every two years. If physicians and practitioners who file affidavits effective on or after June 16, 2015, do not want their opt-out to automatically renew at the end of a two year opt-out period, they may cancel the renewal by notifying all Medicare Administrative Contractors with which they filed an affidavit in writing at least 30 days prior to the start of the next opt-out period.

Valid opt-out affidavits signed before June 16, 2015, will expire two years after the effective date of the opt-out. If physicians and practitioners that filed affidavits effective before June 16, 2015, want to extend their opt out, they must submit a renewal affidavit within 30 days after the current opt-out period expires to all Medicare Administrative Contractors with which they would have filed claims absent the opt-out.