If Im a participating physician, is it ok to collect a Medicare patients deductible up front rather than waiting for the Medicare explanation of benefits?
If you have determined that a patient’s annual Medicare deductible of $135 for 2009 ($155 for 2010) has not yet been met, you may ask the patient to pay the full amount of the “participating (par) allowance” at the time of service. The “par allowance” is the determined by your carrier and is provided to you in December for the next calendar year. Make sure you submit the patient’s billing to Medicare in a timely fashion to assure that your charges will be applied to the deductible since you have already collected for it.
Related Questions
- My Explanation of Benefits shows me a part of the charges, for a recent visit to my physician, were applied to a deductible and to a co-insurance. What is a deductible and co-insurance?
- After an initial visit, what role should the physician have in a Medicare patients ongoing care while the PA see the patient "incident to?
- Are the Part B & Part D medicare premiums deducted from my social security benefits each month, tax deductible?
