Effective date: N/A

Implementation date: N/A

Due to recent revisions that were made to the 2010 Medicare physician fee schedule (MPFS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the 2010 annual participation enrollment program end date from December 31, 2009, to March 17, 2010. Therefore, the enrollment period now runs from November 13, 2009, through March 17, 2010.

Medicare contractors will accept and process any participation elections or withdrawals, made during the extended enrollment period that are received or post-marked on or before March 17, 2010.

The effective date for any participation status change during the extension remains January 1, 2010, and will be in force for the entire year.

Note: This is an extension of the annual participation enrollment period dates in change request (CR) 6637 (Transmittal 1832 -- Calendar Year (CY) 2010 Participation Enrollment and Medicare Participating Physicians and Suppliers Directory (MEDPARD) Procedures), dated October 16, 2009.

Here is the link to the special edition MLN Matters article SE0929 .