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Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Reader Question:

Does Ability to Bill the Patient Expire?

Published on Thu Mar 01, 2012

Question: Is there a time limit on when you can bill a patient for their balance due after the insurance company processes the claim? For example, if the patient still owes a balance (according to insurance's allowed charges) after two or three years, are we able to still bill the patient? Answer: There is no national regulation that limits when you can bill a patient. You should check your state's laws, however, to ensure there is nothing specific to your area that places a time limit on when you can bill a patient. You should also check your payer contracts to be sure there is no stipulation you have agreed to by signing as a participating provider. Keep in mind: Just because there is no time limit, that doesn't mean billing a patient for the first time three years after she had a procedure or service is the best thing [...]
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