In network vs. Out of network benefits

Just wanted to get people's opinions regarding an Ambulatory Surgical Center who is out of network with insurance companies accepts in-network payment from the patients.

re: In network vs. Out of network benefits

Not sure what you are asking but we usually accept out-of network payment as payment in full because patient has procedure in our facility vs hospital.

re: In network vs. Out of network benefits

Based on this article, it seems that this is not something a facility should be involved in. Please provide your comments! Any documentation would be appreciated!

Patient Discounts:Tips to Keep Your Practice Compliant
Posted By ~On November 2002 @ 12:00 am In Billing & Collections

Out-of·Network-Penalty Relief: Honesty is the best policy for allotting discounts as an out-of-network provider. Come clean when you eliminate the out-of-network penalties that patients incur by consulting an out-ofnetwork provider. "You want to somehow alert the payer to what the situation is" so the payer can decide payment on your actual charges, Sarraille says. In doing so, you have not "pulled the wool over their eyes in any way," he says.

Third-party commercial payers voice complaints when you help their clients and not them
with this cost of service.
The typical third-party quibble happens when you charge patients the cost an in-network provider would charge and then bill the payer the standard charge, not showing the discount as listed, Sarraille says. These alleged cash discounts aren't really even discounts, as they're typically called.

They are a guise that makes the out-of-network penalty negligible, Sarraille says. The discounts reduce the services charged, balancing out the penalties that patients incur for using an out-of-network provider. With the discount, the out-of-network provider gets payment from a patient who otherwise might have chosen to avoid penalty and go somewhere else. You may tarnish your reputation by providing incentives to patients that encourage them to avoid their carriers' rules. Plus, you risk violating anti kickback laws.