Re: Medicare Opt Out (was...Just signed up to host meeting...)

[Guest guest]

:Have you read the IOM (Internet Only Manual) on the CMS website? Its hard to find what you are looking for sometimes- but when I called my intermediary on this issue they found the answer to your question in the manual. If you have never opted in or opted out, then you CANNOT ever charge a medicare patient for something medicare would cover. So unless you are sure that CMS considers you as opted out, I would re-evaluate the plan.Carla GibsonI just signed up to host Health Care Reform meeting Dec 20th. Also finished my website-finally. Got most of the ideas from Lonna's Website. Thanks LonnaNext step will be to make a You Tube video...Coming soon-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.-- If you are a patient please allow up to 24 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address.Remember that e-mail may not be entirely

secure/ MD ph fax -- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice:

Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.-- If you are a patient please allow up to 24 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address.Remember that e-mail may not be entirely secure/ MD ph fax -- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

[Guest guest]

:Have you read the IOM (Internet Only Manual) on the CMS website? Its hard to find what you are looking for sometimes- but when I called my intermediary on this issue they found the answer to your question in the manual. If you have never opted in or opted out, then you CANNOT ever charge a medicare patient for something medicare would cover. So unless you are sure that CMS considers you as opted out, I would re-evaluate the plan.Carla GibsonI just signed up to host Health Care Reform meeting Dec 20th. Also finished my website-finally. Got most of the ideas from Lonna's Website. Thanks LonnaNext step will be to make a You Tube video...Coming soon-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.-- If you are a patient please allow up to 24 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address.Remember that e-mail may not be entirely

secure/ MD ph fax -- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice:

Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.-- If you are a patient please allow up to 24 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address.Remember that e-mail may not be entirely secure/ MD ph fax -- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

[Guest guest]

, you're in NY? Are u in NYC?

To: Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:57:19 AMSubject: Medicare Opt Out (was..."Just signed up to host meeting...")Elaine,

What do you mean you can't charge patients if you are not taking Medicare? My understanding is that if you are not contracted with Medicare as either a participating or non-participating provider, then you just need to have private contracts with Medicare patients and inform them that you do not take Medicare.

I am also in the ambiguous situation of having never contracted with Medicare (coming directly out of residency). I did manage to talk to a live person at the NY Medicare Part B company, who could not find me in their system, and therefore told me I did not need to 'opt-out' since I was never 'opted-in'. I still sent in opt-out letters/affadavits to cover my bases.

I plan to act as if I was opted out, and create private contracts just to keep things clear.

Do you know something I don't?

Nice webpage by the way, I didn't know you had written a book!

-jess

Thanks for the support. Definitely need it. I am not taking Medicare, not opted in , not opted out, So can't charge pts either. I still have some stuff i have to grind out w the city regarding my office - thats a stress i don't need. Once that is settled, i need to get brochures made, get an ad in paper, organize some talks w guess speakers (local specialists that i know), show movies. I am only shooting for 500 pts on my panel. Also life would be easier if I could sub lease some of my space to other IMP's. I saw another pt today, he got my name from the Blue shield web site. PS the meeting stuff is good publicity

On Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 5:47 PM, Myria <myriaemenyyahoo (DOT) com> wrote:

You are brave Elaine.

I'm open 5 months and not touching that meeting stuff. Nows the time to be practical and let the more experienced tackle those politics.

And two patients on your first day is a lot!

The learning curve stays steep so don't hurry on the HYH.

I'm doing the phone calls but still don'e have that yet......... .be very careful of Medicare and do that billing first as I'm still waiting for first payments after 4 returns of forms for foolishness and then a change of company.

Feel free to call me if you need encouragement, someone to bemoan being overwhelmed with, etc, etc. I'm sure it gets better. And I'll take this kind of overwhelmed any day over the hamster wheel. Very happy and very tired.

I just signed up to host Health Care Reform meeting Dec 20th. Also finished my website-finally. Got most of the ideas from Lonna's Website. Thanks Lonna

Next step will be to make a You Tube video...Coming soon-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- If you are a patient please allow up to 24 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address.Remember that e-mail may not be entirely secure/ MD ph fax

-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- If you are a patient please allow up to 24 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address.Remember that e-mail may not be entirely secure/ MD ph fax

-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

[Guest guest]

jessica did someone tell you this-- you have to have a upin number and officially opt out. ANd doit every 2 yrs. YOu can';t " just " do it and " tell " a patietnIts the feds -- nothing is simple

Stay out of jail would you please?Love Jean

, you're in NY? Are u in NYC?

To:

Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:57:19 AMSubject: Medicare Opt Out (was... " Just signed up to host meeting... " )

Elaine,

What do you mean you can't charge patients if you are not taking Medicare? My understanding is that if you are not contracted with Medicare as either a participating or non-participating provider, then you just need to have private contracts with Medicare patients and inform them that you do not take Medicare.

I am also in the ambiguous situation of having never contracted with Medicare (coming directly out of residency). I did manage to talk to a live person at the NY Medicare Part B company, who could not find me in their system, and therefore told me I did not need to 'opt-out' since I was never 'opted-in'. I still sent in opt-out letters/affadavits to cover my bases.

I plan to act as if I was opted out, and create private contracts just to keep things clear.

Do you know something I don't?

Nice webpage by the way, I didn't know you had written a book!

-jess

Thanks for the support. Definitely need it. I am not taking Medicare, not opted in , not opted out, So can't charge pts either. I still have some stuff i have to grind out w the city regarding my office - thats a stress i don't need. Once that is settled, i need to get brochures made, get an ad in paper, organize some talks w guess speakers (local specialists that i know), show movies. I am only shooting for 500 pts on my panel.

Also life would be easier if I could sub lease some of my space to other IMP's. I saw another pt today, he got my name from the Blue shield web site. PS the meeting stuff is good publicity

On Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 5:47 PM, Myria <myriaemenyyahoo (DOT) com> wrote:

You are brave Elaine.

I'm open 5 months and not touching that meeting stuff. Nows the time to be practical and let the more experienced tackle those politics.

And two patients on your first day is a lot!

The learning curve stays steep so don't hurry on the HYH.

I'm doing the phone calls but still don'e have that yet......... .be very careful of Medicare and do that billing first as I'm still waiting for first payments after 4 returns of forms for foolishness and then a change of company.

Feel free to call me if you need encouragement, someone to bemoan being overwhelmed with, etc, etc. I'm sure it gets better. And I'll take this kind of overwhelmed any day over the hamster wheel. Very happy and very tired.

I just signed up to host Health Care Reform meeting Dec 20th. Also finished my website-finally. Got most of the ideas from Lonna's Website. Thanks Lonna

Next step will be to make a You Tube video...Coming soon-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- If you are a patient please allow up to 24 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address.Remember that e-mail may not be entirely secure/ MD

ph fax

-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- If you are a patient please allow up to 24 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address.Remember that e-mail may not be entirely secure/ MD

ph fax

-- M.D.www.elainemd. com

Office: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- If you are a patient please allow up to 24 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address.Remember that e-mail may not be entirely secure/ MD

ph fax

[Guest guest]

jessica did someone tell you this-- you have to have a upin number and officially opt out. ANd doit every 2 yrs. YOu can';t " just " do it and " tell " a patietnIts the feds -- nothing is simple

Stay out of jail would you please?Love Jean

, you're in NY? Are u in NYC?

To:

Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:57:19 AMSubject: Medicare Opt Out (was... " Just signed up to host meeting... " )

Elaine,

What do you mean you can't charge patients if you are not taking Medicare? My understanding is that if you are not contracted with Medicare as either a participating or non-participating provider, then you just need to have private contracts with Medicare patients and inform them that you do not take Medicare.

I am also in the ambiguous situation of having never contracted with Medicare (coming directly out of residency). I did manage to talk to a live person at the NY Medicare Part B company, who could not find me in their system, and therefore told me I did not need to 'opt-out' since I was never 'opted-in'. I still sent in opt-out letters/affadavits to cover my bases.

I plan to act as if I was opted out, and create private contracts just to keep things clear.

Do you know something I don't?

Nice webpage by the way, I didn't know you had written a book!

-jess

Thanks for the support. Definitely need it. I am not taking Medicare, not opted in , not opted out, So can't charge pts either. I still have some stuff i have to grind out w the city regarding my office - thats a stress i don't need. Once that is settled, i need to get brochures made, get an ad in paper, organize some talks w guess speakers (local specialists that i know), show movies. I am only shooting for 500 pts on my panel.

Also life would be easier if I could sub lease some of my space to other IMP's. I saw another pt today, he got my name from the Blue shield web site. PS the meeting stuff is good publicity

On Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 5:47 PM, Myria <myriaemenyyahoo (DOT) com> wrote:

You are brave Elaine.

I'm open 5 months and not touching that meeting stuff. Nows the time to be practical and let the more experienced tackle those politics.

And two patients on your first day is a lot!

The learning curve stays steep so don't hurry on the HYH.

I'm doing the phone calls but still don'e have that yet......... .be very careful of Medicare and do that billing first as I'm still waiting for first payments after 4 returns of forms for foolishness and then a change of company.

Feel free to call me if you need encouragement, someone to bemoan being overwhelmed with, etc, etc. I'm sure it gets better. And I'll take this kind of overwhelmed any day over the hamster wheel. Very happy and very tired.

I just signed up to host Health Care Reform meeting Dec 20th. Also finished my website-finally. Got most of the ideas from Lonna's Website. Thanks Lonna

Next step will be to make a You Tube video...Coming soon-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- If you are a patient please allow up to 24 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address.Remember that e-mail may not be entirely secure/ MD

ph fax

-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- If you are a patient please allow up to 24 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address.Remember that e-mail may not be entirely secure/ MD

ph fax

-- M.D.www.elainemd. com

Office: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- If you are a patient please allow up to 24 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address.Remember that e-mail may not be entirely secure/ MD

ph fax

[Guest guest]

I wrote to Medicare and they left a message on my phone. One is either opted in or out, not both. Can't decide status based on practice. I work for an HMO 1/2 day per week. The HMO requires that I have medicare. But Medicare says they do not have my info under either of my NPI's-individual and group. but I suspect they do. So I am technically opted in with this HMO and that is the way that has to be ( I have asked). hence can't charge medicare pt in my IMP practice since I am semi opted in. What my plan is, when I get busy enough, stop work at the HMO. Presently, it helps supplement my income. I have had to turn down 2 senior pt who wanted to join my pratice and pay me directly but with this medicare issue, i can't see them. This is something I hope the health care reform will address.

:Have you read the IOM (Internet Only Manual) on the CMS website? Its hard to find what you are looking for sometimes- but when I called my intermediary on this issue they found the answer to your question in the manual. If you have never opted in or opted out, then you CANNOT ever charge a medicare patient for something medicare would cover. So unless you are sure that CMS considers you as opted out, I would re-evaluate the plan.

Carla Gibson

I just signed up to host Health Care Reform meeting Dec 20th. Also finished my website-finally. Got most of the ideas from Lonna's Website. Thanks Lonna

Next step will be to make a You Tube video...Coming soon-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- If you are a patient please allow up to 24 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address.Remember that e-mail may not be entirely secure/ MD

ph fax

-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- M.D.www.elainemd. comOffice: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- If you are a patient please allow up to 24 hours for a reply by email/please note the new email address.Remember that e-mail may not be entirely secure/ MD

ph fax

-- M.D.www.elainemd. com

Office: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.

-- M.D.www.elainemd.com

Office: Go in the directions of your dreams and live the life you've imagined.