CMS is giving physicians and non-physician practitioners (NPPs) a chance to switch their Medicare status from non-participating to participating between now and July 16. This extra window is being provided because of the 2.2% medicare payment increase under the pay-fix bill that passed June 24, the agency says.
What to do: If you're currently non-par, you must complete the usual CMS-460 form and mail it by July 16, 2010. The CMS-460 form (Medicare Participating Physician or Supplier Agreement) can be downloaded here. So long as the form is postmarked July 16 or earlier, you'll make the cut, CMS says.
Any CMS-460s received during this new, brief window will be retroactive for unprocessed claims with dates of service up to Jan. 1, 2010, which means you may get a significant payment increase when factoring in the 2.2% positive update.
NOTE: CMS stresses that only new or unprocessed claims with dates of service up to Jan. 1, 2010 will be paid using participating rates. Any claims you submitted and received payment for prior to sending in the CMS-460 during this enrollment period will not get a pay increase from non-par to par, the agency says.