Anesthesia Coding Alert

Discounts and write-offs are options, if you follow these guidelines.Realizing a patient might have trouble paying his bills because of financial difficulty is a discouraging fact of the modern economic climate. While you certainly remain concerned for your patients' well-being, your practice also needs to stay financially healthy. Temptation: When financial hardship strikes a patient, you might want to help by waiving a co-pay or deductible -- or possibly even writing off the balance. The problem: Routinely waiving deductibles and copayments can violate several federal laws and regulations, including the federal False Claims Act, anti-kickback statutes, and compliance guidelines for individual and small group physician practices. Doing so may also violate payer contracts and could result in your removal from a health plan's provider panel.Know When You Can't WaiveThe Office of Inspector General (OIG) has issued guidance about waiving co-pays and deductibles. In the Federal False Claims Act, the OIG identifies [...]