decisionhealth Newsletters, Coder Pink Sheets - 2009 Issue 1 (January)
Remember: You can charge no-show fees to Medicare patients
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Article Overview
This article discusses Medicare policy on charging patients for missed appointments, with emphasis on equal application of a practice’s no-show policy across Medicare and non-Medicare patients. It is relevant to physician offices, suppliers, and billing staff who handle patient-facing fees, claim handling, and policy compliance. The article also points readers to CMS guidance and related Medicare manual and MLN materials for additional context.
Why This Topic Matters
Missed appointments can affect both revenue and care continuity, so practices need to understand when patient charges are permitted and how to keep their policies consistent. The article helps billing and administrative teams recognize the general Medicare framework for no-show fees and avoid improper claim submission for these charges.
What You Will Learn
- How Medicare treats missed-appointment charges at a high level
- Why a practice’s no-show policy must be applied consistently
- How billing staff may distinguish missed-appointment fees from service charges in general terms
- Where to look for CMS and Medicare manual guidance on the topic
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Medical practice managers
- Billing staff
- Coding professionals
- Revenue cycle staff
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