For purposes of this subpart, the following definitions apply:

Beneficiary means an individual who is enrolled in Part B of Medicare.

Emergency care services means inpatient or outpatient hospital services that are necessary to prevent death or serious impairment of health and, because of the danger to life or health, require use of the most accessible hospital available and equipped to furnish those services.

Legal representative means one or more individuals who, as determined by applicable State law, has the legal authority to enter into the contract with the physician or practitioner on behalf of the beneficiary.

Opt-out means the status of meeting the conditions specified in § 405.410.

Opt-out period means, with respect to an affidavit that meets the requirements of § 405.420, a 2-year period beginning on the date the affidavit is signed, as specified by § 405.410(c)(1) or (2) as applicable, and each successive 2-year period unless the physician or practitioner properly cancels opt-out in accordance with § 405.445.

Participating physician means a “physician” as defined in this section who has signed an agreement to participate in Part B of Medicare.

Physician means a doctor of medicine; doctor of osteopathy; doctor of dental surgery or of dental medicine; doctor of podiatric medicine; or doctor of optometry who is legally authorized to practice medicine, osteopathy, dental surgery, dental medicine, podiatric medicine, or optometry by the State in which he performs such function and who is acting within the scope of his license when he performs such functions.

Practitioner means a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse midwife, clinical psychologist, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, registered dietitian or nutrition professional, who is currently legally authorized to practice in that capacity by each State in which he or she furnishes services to patients or clients.

Private contract means a document that meets the criteria specified in § 405.415.

Properly opt-out means to complete, without defect, the requirements for opt-out as specified in § 405.410.

Properly terminate opt-out means to complete, without defect, the requirements for terminating opt-out as specified in § 405.445.

Urgent care services means services furnished to an individual who requires services to be furnished within 12 hours in order to avoid the likely onset of an emergency medical condition.

[63 FR 58901, Nov. 2, 1998, as amended at 69 FR 1116, Jan. 7, 2004; 71 FR 69782, Dec. 1, 2006; 79 FR 68001, Nov. 13, 2014; 80 FR 71370, Nov. 16, 2015; 88 FR 79523, Nov. 16, 2023]

(a) A physician or practitioner may enter into one or more private contracts with Medicare beneficiaries for the purpose of furnishing items or services that would otherwise be covered by Medicare, provided the conditions of this subpart are met.

(b) A physician or practitioner who enters into at least one private contract with a Medicare beneficiary under the conditions of this subpart, and who submits one or more affidavits in accordance with this subpart, opts out of Medicare for the opt-out period described in § 405.400 unless the opt-out is terminated early according to § 405.445.

(c) Both the private contracts described in paragraph (a) of this section and the physician's or practitioner's opt-out described in paragraph (b) of this section are null and void if the physician or practitioner fails to properly opt-out in accordance with the conditions of this subpart.

(d) Both the private contracts described in paragraph (a) of this section and the physician's or practitioner's opt-out described in paragraph (b) of this section are null and void for the remainder of the opt-out period if the physician or practitioner fails to remain in compliance with the conditions of this subpart during the opt-out period.

(e) Services furnished under private contracts meeting the requirements of this subpart are not covered services under Medicare, and no Medicare payment will be made for such services either directly or indirectly, except as permitted in accordance with § 405.435(c).

[63 FR 58901, Nov. 2, 1998, as amended at 80 FR 71370, Nov. 16, 2015]

The following conditions must be met for a physician or practitioner to properly opt-out of Medicare:

(a) Each private contract between a physician or a practitioner and a Medicare beneficiary that is entered into prior to the submission of the affidavit described in paragraph (b) of this section must meet the specifications of § 405.415.

(b) The physician or practitioner must submit an affidavit that meets the specifications of § 405.420 to each Medicare Administrative Contractor with which he or she would file claims absent the opt-out.

(c) A nonparticipating physician or a practitioner may opt-out of Medicare at any time in accordance with the following:

(1) The initial 2-year opt-out period begins the date the affidavit meeting the requirements of § 405.420 is signed, provided the affidavit is filed within 10 days after he or she signs his or her first private contract with a Medicare beneficiary.

(2) If the physician or practitioner does not timely file the opt-out affidavit(s) as specified in the previous paragraph, the initial 2-year opt-out period begins when the last such affidavit is filed. Any private contract entered into before the last required affidavit is filed becomes effective upon the filing of the last required affidavit, and the furnishing of any items or services to a Medicare beneficiary under such contract before the last required affidavit is filed is subject to standard Medicare rules.

(d) A participating physician may properly opt-out of Medicare at the beginning of any calendar quarter, provided that the affidavit described in § 405.420 is submitted to the participating physician's Medicare Administrative Contractors at least 30 days before the beginning of the selected calendar quarter. A private contract entered into before the beginning of the selected calendar quarter becomes effective at the beginning of the selected calendar quarter, and the furnishing of any items or services to a Medicare beneficiary under such contract before the beginning of the selected calendar quarter is subject to standard Medicare rules.

[63 FR 58901, Nov. 2, 1998, as amended at 80 FR 71370, Nov. 16, 2015]

A private contract under this subpart must:

(a) Be in writing and in print sufficiently large to ensure that the beneficiary is able to read the contract.

(b) Clearly state whether the physician or practitioner is excluded from Medicare under sections 1128, 1156, or 1892 or any other section of the Social Security Act.

(c) State that the beneficiary or his or her legal representative accepts full responsibility for payment of the physician's or practitioner's charge for all services furnished by the physician or practitioner.

(d) State that the beneficiary or his or her legal representative understands that Medicare limits do not apply to what the physician or practitioner may charge for items or services furnished by the physician or practitioner.

(e) State that the beneficiary or his or her legal representative agrees not to submit a claim to Medicare or to ask the physician or practitioner to submit a claim to Medicare.

(f) State that the beneficiary or his or her legal representative understands that Medicare payment will not be made for any items or services furnished by the physician or practitioner that would have otherwise been covered by Medicare if there was no private contract and a proper Medicare claim had been submitted.

(g) State that the beneficiary or his or her legal representative enters into this contract with the knowledge that he or she has the right to obtain Medicare-covered items and services from physicians and practitioners who have not opted-out of Medicare, and that the beneficiary is not compelled to enter into private contracts that apply to other Medicare-covered services furnished by other physicians or practitioners who have not opted-out.

(h) State the expected or known effective date and the expected or known expiration date of the current 2-year opt-out period.

(i) State that the beneficiary or his or her legal representative understands that Medigap plans do not, and that other supplemental plans may elect not to, make payments for items and services not paid for by Medicare.

(j) Be signed by the beneficiary or his or her legal representative and by the physician or practitioner.

(k) Not be entered into by the beneficiary or by the beneficiary's legal representative during a time when the beneficiary requires emergency care services or urgent care services. (However, a physician or practitioner may furnish emergency or urgent care services to a Medicare beneficiary in accordance with § 405.440.)

(l) Be provided (a photocopy is permissible) to the beneficiary or to his or her legal representative before items or services are furnished to the beneficiary under the terms of the contract.

(m) Be retained (original signatures of both parties required) by the physician or practitioner for the duration of the current 2-year opt-out period.

(n) Be made available to CMS upon request.

(o) Be entered into for each 2-year opt-out period.

[63 FR 58901, Nov. 2, 1998, as amended at 80 FR 71370, Nov. 16, 2015]

An affidavit under this subpart must:

(a) Be in writing and be signed by the physician or practitioner.

(b) Contain the physician's or practitioner's full name, address, telephone number, national provider identifier (NPI) or billing number, if one has been assigned, uniform provider identification number (UPIN) if one has been assigned, or, if neither an NPI nor a UPIN has been assigned, the physician's or practitioner's tax identification number (TIN).

(c) State that, except for emergency or urgent care services (as specified in § 405.440), during the opt-out period the physician or practitioner will provide services to Medicare beneficiaries only through private contracts that meet the criteria of paragraph § 405.415 for services that, but for their provision under a private contract, would have been Medicare-covered services.

(d) State that the physician or practitioner will not submit a claim to Medicare for any service furnished to a Medicare beneficiary during the opt-out period, nor will the physician or practitioner permit any entity acting on his or her behalf to submit a claim to Medicare for services furnished to a Medicare beneficiary, except as specified in § 405.440.

(e) State that, during the opt-out period, the physician or practitioner understands that he or she may receive no direct or indirect Medicare payment for services that he or she furnishes to Medicare beneficiaries with whom he or she has privately contracted, whether as an individual, an employee of an organization, a partner in a partnership, under a reassignment of benefits, or as payment for a service furnished to a Medicare beneficiary under a Medicare Advantage plan.

(f) State that a physician or practitioner who opts-out of Medicare acknowledges that, during the opt-out period, his or her services are not covered under Medicare and that no Medicare payment may be made to any entity for his or her services, directly or on a capitated basis.

(g) State a promise by the physician or practitioner to the effect that, during the opt-out period, the physician or practitioner agrees to be bound by the terms of both the affidavit and the private contracts that he or she has entered into.

(h) Acknowledge that the physician or practitioner recognizes that the terms of the affidavit apply to all Medicare-covered items and services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries by the physician or practitioner during the opt-out period (except for emergency or urgent care services furnished to the beneficiaries with whom he or she has not previously privately contracted) without regard to any payment arrangements the physician or practitioner may make.

(i) With respect to a physician who has signed a Part B participation agreement, acknowledge that such agreement terminates on the effective date of the affidavit.

(j) Acknowledge that the physician or practitioner understands that a beneficiary who has not entered into a private contract and who requires emergency or urgent care services may not be asked to enter into a private contract with respect to receiving such services and that the rules of § 405.440 apply if the physician furnishes such services.

[63 FR 58901, Nov. 2, 1998, as amended at 79 FR 68001, Nov. 13, 2014]

If a physician or practitioner opts-out of Medicare in accordance with this subpart, the following results obtain during the opt-out period:

(a) Except as provided in § 405.440, no payment may be made directly by Medicare or by any Medicare Advantage plan to the physician or practitioner or to any entity to which the physician or practitioner reassigns his right to receive payment for services.

(b) The physician or practitioner may not furnish any item or service that would otherwise be covered by Medicare (except for emergency or urgent care services) to any Medicare beneficiary except through a private contract that meets the requirements of this subpart.

(c) The physician or practitioner is not subject to the requirement to submit a claim for items or services furnished to a Medicare beneficiary, as specified in § 424.5(a)(6) of this chapter, except as provided in § 405.440.

(d) The physician or practitioner is prohibited from submitting a claim to Medicare for items or services furnished to a Medicare beneficiary except as provided in § 405.440.

(e) In the case of a physician, he or she is not subject to the limiting charge provisions of § 414.48 of this chapter, except for services provided under § 405.440.

(f) The physician or practitioner is not subject to the prohibition-on-reassignment provisions of § 414.80 of this chapter, except for services provided under § 405.440.

(g) In the case of a practitioner, he or she is not prohibited from billing or collecting amounts from beneficiaries (as provided in 42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)(B)).

(h) The death of a beneficiary who has entered into a private contract (or whose legal representative has done so) does not invoke § 424.62 or § 424.64 of this chapter with respect to the physician or practitioner with whom the beneficiary (or legal representative) has privately contracted.

(i) The physician or practitioner who has not been excluded under sections 1128, 1156 or 1892 of the Act and whose Medicare enrollment is not revoked under § 424.535 of this chapter may order, certify the need for, prescribe, or refer a beneficiary for Medicare-covered items, services, and drugs, provided the physician or practitioner is not paid, directly or indirectly, for such services (except as provided in § 405.440).

(j) The physician or practitioner who is excluded under sections 1128, 1156 or 1892 of the Act or whose Medicare enrollment is revoked under § 424.535 of this chapter may not order, prescribe or certify the need for Medicare-covered items, services, and drugs except, with respect to exclusions, as provided in § 1001.1901 of this title, and must otherwise comply with the terms of any exclusion in accordance with § 1001.1901 of this title effective with the date of the exclusion.

[63 FR 58901, Nov. 2, 1998, as amended at 79 FR 68001, Nov. 13, 2014; 80 FR 71370, Nov. 16, 2015; 84 FR 47852, Sept. 10, 2019]

(a) A physician or practitioner fails to properly opt-out if—

(1) Any private contract between the physician or practitioner and a Medicare beneficiary, that was entered into before the affidavit described in § 405.420 was filed, does not meet the specifications of § 405.415; or

(2) He or she fails to submit the affidavit(s) in accordance with § 405.420.

(b) If a physician or practitioner fails to properly opt-out in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, the following results obtain:

(1) The physician's or practitioner's attempt to opt-out of Medicare is nullified, and all of the private contracts between the physician or practitioner and Medicare beneficiaries for the two-year period covered by the attempted opt-out are deemed null and void.

(2) The physician or practitioner must submit claims to Medicare for all Medicare-covered items and services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries, including the items and services furnished under the nullified contracts. A nonparticipating physician is subject to the limiting charge provisions of § 414.48 of this chapter. A participating physician is subject to the limitations on charges of the participation agreement he or she signed.

(3) The practitioner may not reassign any claim except as provided in § 424.80 of this chapter.

(4) The practitioner may neither bill nor collect an amount from the beneficiary except for applicable deductible and coinsurance amounts.

(5) The physician or practitioner may make another attempt to properly opt-out at any time.

(a) A physician or practitioner fails to maintain opt-out under this subpart if, during the opt-out period—

(1) He or she knowingly and willfully—

(i) Submits a claim for Medicare payment (except as provided in § 405.440); or

(ii) Receives Medicare payment directly or indirectly for Medicare-covered services furnished to a Medicare beneficiary (except as provided in § 405.440).

(2) He or she fails to enter into private contracts with Medicare beneficiaries for the purpose of furnishing items and services that would otherwise be covered by Medicare, or enters into contracts that fail to meet the specifications of § 405.415; or

(3) He or she fails to comply with the provisions of § 405.440 regarding billing for emergency care services or urgent care services; or

(4) He or she fails to retain a copy of each private contract that he or she has entered into for the duration of the current 2-year period for which the contracts are applicable or fails to permit CMS to inspect them upon request.

(b) If a physician or practitioner fails to maintain opt-out in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, then, for the remainder of the opt-out period, except as provided by paragraph (d) of this section—

(1) All of the private contracts between the physician or practitioner and Medicare beneficiaries are deemed null and void.

(2) The physician's or practitioner's opt-out of Medicare is nullified.

(3) The physician or practitioner must submit claims to Medicare for all Medicare-covered items and services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries.

(4) The physician or practitioner or beneficiary will not receive Medicare payment on Medicare claims for the remainder of the opt-out period, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section.

(5) The physician is subject to the limiting charge provisions of § 414.48 of this chapter.

(6) The practitioner may not reassign any claim except as provided in § 424.80 of this chapter.

(7) The practitioner may neither bill nor collect any amount from the beneficiary except for applicable deductible and coinsurance amounts.

(8) The physician or practitioner may not attempt to once more meet the criteria for properly opting-out until the current 2-year period expires.

(c) Medicare payment may be made for the claims submitted by a beneficiary for the services of an opt-out physician or practitioner when the physician or practitioner did not privately contract with the beneficiary for services that were not emergency care services or urgent care services and that were furnished no later than 15 days after the date of a notice by the carrier that the physician or practitioner has opted-out of Medicare.

(d) If a physician or practitioner demonstrates that he or she has taken good faith efforts to maintain opt-out (including by refunding amounts in excess of the charge limits to beneficiaries with whom he or she did not sign a private contract) within 45 days of a notice from the Medicare Administrative Contractor of a violation of paragraph (a) of this section, then the requirements of paragraphs (b)(1) through (8) of this section are not applicable. In situations where a violation of paragraph (a) of this section is not discovered by the Medicare Administrative Contractor during the current 2-year period when the violation actually occurred, then the requirements of paragraphs (b)(1) through (8) of this section are applicable from the date that the first violation of paragraph (a) of this section occurred until the end of the 2-year period during which the violation occurred unless the physician or practitioner takes good faith efforts, within 45 days of any notice from the Medicare Administrative Contractor that the physician or practitioner failed to maintain opt-out, or within 45 days of the physician's or practitioner's discovery of the failure to maintain opt-out, whichever is earlier, to correct his or her violations of paragraph (a) of this section. Good faith efforts include, but are not limited to, refunding any amounts collected in excess of the charge limits to beneficiaries with whom he or she did not sign a private contract.

[63 FR 58901, Nov. 2, 1998, as amended at 70 FR 70329, Nov. 21, 2005; 80 FR 71370, Nov. 16, 2015]

(a) A physician or practitioner who has opted-out of Medicare under this subpart need not enter into a private contract to furnish emergency care services or urgent care services to a Medicare beneficiary. Accordingly, a physician or practitioner will not be determined to have failed to maintain opt-out if he or she furnishes emergency care services or urgent care services to a Medicare beneficiary with whom the physician or practitioner has not previously entered into a private contract, provided the physician or practitioner complies with the billing requirements specified in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) When a physician or practitioner who has not been excluded under sections 1128, 1156, or 1892 of the Social Security Act furnishes emergency care services or urgent care services to a Medicare beneficiary with whom the physician or practitioner has not previously entered into a private contract, he or she:

(1) Must submit a claim to Medicare in accordance with both 42 CFR part 424 and Medicare instructions (including but not limited to complying with proper coding of emergency or urgent care services furnished by physicians and practitioners who have opted-out of Medicare).

(2) May collect no more than—

(i) The Medicare limiting charge, in the case of a physician; or

(ii) The deductible and coinsurance, in the case of a practitioner.

(c) Emergency care services or urgent care services furnished to a Medicare beneficiary with whom the physician or practitioner has previously entered into a private contract (that is, entered into before the onset of the emergency medical condition or urgent medical condition), are furnished under the terms of the private contract.

(d) Medicare may make payment for emergency care services or urgent care services furnished by a physician or practitioner who has properly opted-out when the services are furnished and the claim for services is made in accordance with this section. A physician or practitioner who has been excluded must comply with the regulations at § 1001.1901 (Scope and effect of exclusion) of this title when he or she furnishes emergency services to beneficiaries and may not bill and be paid for urgent care services.

(a) A physician or practitioner may cancel opt-out by submitting a written notice to each Medicare Administrative Contractor to which he or she would file claims absent the opt-out, not later than 30 days before the end of the current 2-year opt-out period, indicating that the physician or practitioner does not want to extend the application of the opt-out affidavit for a subsequent 2-year period.

(b) To properly terminate opt-out a physician or practitioner must:

(1) Not have previously opted out of Medicare.

(2) Notify all Medicare Administrative Contractors, with which he or she filed an affidavit, of the termination of the opt-out no later than 90 days after the effective date of the initial 2-year period.

(3) Refund to each beneficiary with whom he or she has privately contracted all payment collected in excess of:

(i) The Medicare limiting charge (in the case of physicians); or

(ii) The deductible and coinsurance (in the case of practitioners).

(4) Notify all beneficiaries with whom the physician or practitioner entered into private contracts of the physician's or practitioner's decision to terminate opt-out and of the beneficiaries' right to have claims filed on their behalf with Medicare for the services furnished during the period between the effective date of the opt-out and the effective date of the termination of the opt-out period.

(c) When the physician or practitioner properly terminates opt-out in accordance with paragraph (b), he or she will be reinstated in Medicare as if there had been no opt-out, and the provision of § 405.425 shall not apply unless the physician or practitioner subsequently properly opts out.

(d) A physician or practitioner who has completed opt-out on or before January 1, 1999 may terminate opt-out during the 90 days following January 1, 1999 if he or she notifies all carriers to whom he or she would otherwise submit claims of the intent to terminate opt-out and complies with paragraphs (b)(3) and (4) of this section. Paragraph (c) of this section applies in these cases.

[63 FR 58901, Nov. 2, 1998, as amended at 80 FR 71371, Nov. 16, 2015]

(a) A determination by CMS that a physician or practitioner has failed to properly opt out, failed to maintain opt-out, failed to timely renew opt-out, failed to privately contract, failed to properly terminate opt-out, or failed to properly cancel opt-out is an initial determination for purposes of § 498.3(b) of this chapter.

(b) A determination by CMS that no payment can be made to a beneficiary for the services of a physician who has opted-out is an initial determination for purposes of § 405.924.

[63 FR 58901, Nov. 2, 1998, as amended at 79 FR 68001, Nov. 13, 2014; 80 FR 71371, Nov. 16, 2015]

An organization that has a contract with CMS to provide one or more Medicare Advantage (M + C) plans to beneficiaries (part 422 of this chapter):

(a) Must acquire and maintain information from Medicare carriers on physicians and practitioners who have opted-out of Medicare.

(b) Must make no payment directly or indirectly for Medicare covered services furnished to a Medicare beneficiary by a physician or practitioner who has opted-out of Medicare.

(c) May make payment to a physician or practitioner who furnishes emergency or urgent care services to a beneficiary who has not previously entered into a private contract with the physician or practitioner in accordance with § 405.440.

[63 FR 58901, Nov. 2, 1998, as amended at 79 FR 68001, Nov. 13, 2014]