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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Extends Deadline to Enroll in Medicare until February 14, 2007 Physicians will receive an additional 45 days to inform Medicare of their participation status for 2007. While the annual participation election period typically ends on December 31, CMS has extended the deadline to February 14, 2007. Prior to this deadline, physicians may revise their participation election. CMS decided to extend the enrollment period in recognition of the fact that Congress passed legislation affecting physician reimbursement for 2007. The “Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006,” which was signed into law by President Bush on December 20, freezes Medicare physician payments at 2006 levels; thus preventing the 5 percent cut that was scheduled to occur on January 1, 2007. The bill also prevents additional cuts (particularly for physicians living in rural areas) due to changes in the geographic practice costs index (GPCI). Finally, the bill includes an additional 1.5 percent bonus payment for those physicians who report certain quality measures between July 1 and December 31, 2007; though these bonus payments will not be paid until 2008. On average, neurosurgeons will now be facing a 3 percent payment cut (1 percent for changes due to five-year review of work relative values; 1 percent due to practice expense changes; and 1 percent due to reductions in reimbursement for imaging services) in 2007, rather than the 8-12 percent cut previously expected. The AANS and CNS did not support this legislation. For more information on why, including several related detailed documents, please visit: http://www.aans.org/legislative/aans/5% 20percent%20payment%20reduction%20halted_12-06.asp For additional information on Medicare participation options go to: http://www.aans.org/shared_pdfs/medicare_participation_options.pdf.