Will a office write off an amount that the insurance deems over maximum billable they allow?
Yes, it is possible for an office to write off an amount that the insurance deems over the maximum billable amount allowed. When an insurance company determines that the billed amount exceeds the allowable limit, they may reduce or deny the claim, leaving the healthcare provider responsible for the remaining balance. In such cases, the provider can choose to write off the outstanding amount as a bad debt, meaning they accept that they will not be compensated for the services provided. This can occur if the provider believes it is not feasible to collect the remaining amount or when they want to maintain a positive relationship with the patient.
Writing off the excessive charges as bad debt can have financial implications for the healthcare provider, as it means the practice will not receive any reimbursement for those services. However, providers may prefer to absorb these losses rather than pass on the extra costs to the patient, especially if they value patient satisfaction and retention.
It's important to note that the decision to write off an amount is at the discretion of the healthcare practice and is influenced by various factors such as their financial policies, patient relationships, and the frequency of such insurance-related issues.