Return to Video Primers

Little Health Law Primer: Consequences to Surrendering Your Medical License

Video Transcript

Lee: Hi, I’m Lee little. This Little Health Law video primer discusses potential unintended consequences when surrendering your medical license. While there are many reasons a provider may not intend to continue working in a particular state, and not desire to maintain licensure, surrendering a medical license can have unintended consequences, such as revocation of Medicare privileges, or creating a Medicare enrollment bar.

CMS, or one of its contractors, may take certain adverse actions in response to the surrender of a state license. Specifically, CMS, or its contractor, can revoke a provider’s privileges if the provider is determined out of compliance with certain enrollment requirements and has not submitted a plan of corrective action.

Surrendering a license can move the provider into non-compliance if the licensure is required for enrollment, or the provider fail to report his or her voluntary surrender.

Additional circumstances that may prompt adverse action by CMS includes situations in which the surrender of a license stems from what is deemed a disciplinary proceeding that concerns professional competence, performance, or financial integrity. Because adverse action by CMS generally applies across the country, and can significantly affect employability, it is important to consult with your healthcare attorney about your specific circumstances before surrendering a medical license.

Man: For more information about our healthcare law firm, reach out to us at info@hamilllittle.com or visit our website.

We Look Forward to Working With You