On Nov. 16, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced proposed changes to Medicare drug plans, including voiding the requirement that dentists enroll in or validly opt-out of Medicare in order for prescriptions written for their Medicare beneficiary patients to be covered. The proposed rule also contains changes to Medicare Part C, including a repeal of the current provision requiring dentists to be enrolled in Medicare in order to provide supplemental services to patients enrolled in Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage plans.

On March 5, 2018, the White House Office of Management and Budget started reviewing the final Medicare Advantage and Part D rule. The unified agenda indicates the administration hopes to get the rule done in time for the policies in the rule to be in place for the 2019 contract year.

Impact on General Dentistry: The AGD has actively pursued the removal of this requirement for dentists in the interest of its members and will continue to report on any new developments. Please visit the AGD’s updated Medicare FAQs Key Issues page or contact the AGD at practice@agd.org if you have any additional questions.