What are the billing guidelines regarding fees to patients with different financial classes or self pay?

by CMccullough
(New Orleans, LA)

My office provides a service which we have just become approved to bill for. My office is state run. Some patients are not enrolled in this program and we are providing this service for free. May we bill for services provided to patients that are enrolled in the program while continuing to provide the same service for patients not enrolled for free?

I know the fee for service has to be the same no matter what the financial class is. All patients have to be charged the same for the same service. If not it is discrimination because of financial class.

Thanks

Response:
I don't know if this answers your question but I've had providers that billed the same amount for a service - regardless of a patients ability to pay.

But they did "Write-Off" the fee to certain patients who were not able to pay - at the providers discretion.

Like you mentioned your billing does have to be non-discriminatory based on financial class. But I understand the provider does have discretion in offering services for free or "Pro bono".

Hope this helps. Anyone else have experience with a similar situation please post your comments by clicking on the link below:

Thanks!