Where do you fall on no-shows: charge or no charge?

Article Overview

This article discusses how medical practices handle patient no-shows and why Medicare patients require special caution. It summarizes commentary from HCFA and OIG officials, describes practice policies for billing patients directly, and notes common operational alternatives such as reminder calls, double-booking, and rescheduling procedures. The piece is useful for physicians, practice managers, coders, and compliance staff evaluating whether no-show fees are appropriate and how such policies may vary by payer and state law.