What is Medicare Opt-Out?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) maintain a list of practitioners who have opted out of Medicare. When a provider opts out of Medicare, no services provided by that individual are covered by Medicare and no payment can be made to the physician or practitioner or to beneficiaries except for services provided in an emergency/urgent care situation. Only individual providers may opt out of Medicare. Group practices and organizations may not opt out. CMS updates this list on a monthly basis.