Dentists no longer need to opt in (enroll) or opt out of Medicare to continue to provide dental care, supplemental services, and prescriptions for patients on Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had issued a rule in 2014 that required dentists and other health care providers to either opt in or opt out of participation in Medicare. As of November 2017, Medicare announced the permanent cancellation of the opt-in and opt-out requirements for dentists. 

In making these policy revisions,  CMS hasn't rescinded the two-year opt-out period for providers. Dentists who've already opted out of Medicare can't bill a Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan until their two-year opt-out window expires, but they can continue to use private contracts with patients to provide care until the two-year restriction expires. Dentists currently under a Medicare opt-out contract can call Colorado's Medicare vendor,  Novitas, at 855-252-8782 to ensure their opt-out doesn't automatically renew at the end of the current two-year window.

If you signed an opt-out affidavit on or after June 16, 2015, the opt-out will automatically renew every two years. Dentists who filed a valid opt-out affidavit after June 16, 2015, and don't want to extend their opt-out status at the end of the two-year period can cancel by notifying in writing all Medicare contractors with which they filed an affidavit at least 30 days prior to the start of the next two-year opt-out period.

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