More often the ER in smaller hospitals is staffed in part by contract employees. Seems like I read some time ago that providers who contract with a Medicare participating hospital must accept assignment.
Perhaps that is incorrect. Can't say since I can't find any reference addressing that issue.
Going beyond the issue of non-par providers who may accept assignment or not would be providers who opt out of Medicare completely.
Given the requirement of notifying the patient prior to accepting services from an opt-out provider, I would assume anyone who contracts with a hospital is either par or non-par.
So we are back to non-par providers who contract with a hospital in any capacity, including ER. Are such providers allowed to forgo assignment?
Even if they are, it would seem that the likelihood of collecting a high percentage of any xs charges would be slim. ER's are money losers for most hospitals given the number of people who are uninsured as well as others who may have the ability to pay but simply choose not to.
Perhaps that is incorrect. Can't say since I can't find any reference addressing that issue.
Going beyond the issue of non-par providers who may accept assignment or not would be providers who opt out of Medicare completely.
Given the requirement of notifying the patient prior to accepting services from an opt-out provider, I would assume anyone who contracts with a hospital is either par or non-par.
So we are back to non-par providers who contract with a hospital in any capacity, including ER. Are such providers allowed to forgo assignment?
Even if they are, it would seem that the likelihood of collecting a high percentage of any xs charges would be slim. ER's are money losers for most hospitals given the number of people who are uninsured as well as others who may have the ability to pay but simply choose not to.