NOTE:  Data in the “Annual and Cumulative” chart were updated 8 November 2024, based on the Opt Out Affidavits dataset through September 2024. Other chart data were not updated. 2024 will be (already has been) a record year for the number of psychologists opting out.

As of the August 2024 Update to CMS’s Opt Out Affidavits dataset, 6,462 psychologists are currently opted out of Medicare. 792 have opted out in 2024 YTD, up to and including an opt-out start date of 10/1/2024. This is an increase over year 2023 – which had the most annual opt-outs up to that time – at 772 for the entire year.

Source:  CMS Program Statistics – Medicare Providers. Dataset reportedly updated annually, 2021 is the most recent year for which data are available. “Resources for using and understanding the data” are described to be “based on information gathered from the Provider of Services File. The data reported in the Non-Institutional Provider tables [used for this chart] are based on information gathered from Part B (Medical Insurance) non-institutional claims data for Original Medicare (or fee-for-service) Part B beneficiaries available from the CMS Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse.” Psychiatry includes Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry, and Neuropsychiatry designations. Clinical Psychologist does not include the “Psychologist, Billing Independently” designation (average of 651 all years).