Accept Assignment means which of the following?

• A. The patient must pay all charges upfront.
• B. The provider can bill the patient for the difference between charged and allowed.
• C. The patient can choose any provider regardless of network.
• D. The provider agrees to treat Medicaid patients and accept Medicaid payment as payment in full; cannot bill the patient; must adjust what is not paid.

Answer: (D)

Accepting assignment means the provider agrees to treat Medicaid patients and to accept the Medicaid payment as payment in full for covered services. In this arrangement, the provider cannot bill the patient for the difference between the provider’s charge and the Medicaid payment—the provider must write off, or adjust, any amount not paid by Medicaid. The patient would only be responsible for any non-covered services or any patient-specific obligations allowed by the plan, but not for the shortfall on covered Medicaid services. This is what makes it the correct description: the provider commits to Medicaid’s payment as full settlement for those services, preventing balance billing for what Medicaid covers.