Our thanks to D.H. Leavitt of Chirocode Institute (in boldface) for some answers to a perennial question: How can one "opt out" of Medicare? D.H.: SORRY, CHIROPRACTORS CAN NOT OPT-OUT. THERE IS SUCH A PROVISION IN THE LAW, BUT IT IS LIMITED TO AN MD OR DO ONLY. We didn't bill Medicare for a period of 3+ quarters, D.H.: WE SURE HOPE YOU DID NOT PROVIDE ANY SERVICE. BECAUSE IF YOU DID, AND DID NOT BILL, THE FRAUD AND ABUSE SQUADS WANT TO SEE YOU. and were 'taken off their list' of providers D.H.: NO WAY JOSE! THERE IS AN ERROR SOMEWHERE. THEY DON'T JUST TAKE YOU OFF AUTOMATICALLY. TO BE "TAKEN OFF", YOU HAD TO OF CHANGED YOUR STATUS FROM PROVIDER TO NON-PROVIDER IN WRITING LAST YEAR. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY YOU COME OFF. THAT WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IS ONLY ANNUALLY (DEC-JAN) however Railraod Medicare hasn't been so kind D.H. PERHAPS THEY ARE JUST KEEPING THE RULES! How does one go about getting out of any and all Medicare programs? D.H.: YOU CAN ONLY GET OUT BY NOT GIVING ANY SERVICE TO ANY MEDICARE PATIENT, OR EXERCISING THE ANNUAL WRITTEN TERMINATION OPTION REFERENCED ABOVE. YOU CANNOT EVEN GIVE THEM SERVICE FOR FREE. ( A DC WHO DID COMPASONATE SERVICE WITH NO FEE, AND DID NOT SUBMITT A CLAIM SHOWING THAT FACT, WAS FINED LAST YEAR ABOUT 5 THOUSAND BUCKS) THERE IS ARE OTHER FACTORS YOU MIGHT CONSIDER: 1) DO NOT DO ANY CMT (98940-98942) PROCEDURE SERVICES. 2) OR IF YOU DO, AND THE DIAGNOSIS IS NOT THE APPROVED DX LIST OR IF THE PATIENT IS "STABLE", AND ON MAINTENANCE, HAVE PATIENT SIGN THE ABN FORM AND USE THE GA MODIFIER ON CLAIM FORM. THIS MAKES IT A PATIENT RESPONSIBILITY 3) OR IF YOU PROVIDE ONLY MEDICARE "NON-COVERED" SERVICES, WHICH IS EVERYTHING BUT A CMT (98940-98942) SERVICE SUCCESS TO YOU D H LEAVITT, CHIROCODE INSTITUTE.