A medical provider accepting Medicare Assignment must agree to what payment structure?

When a medical provider accepts Medicare Assignment, they agree to accept the payment calculated based on a defined Medicare schedule as payment in full. This means that the provider must adhere to the reimbursement rates set by Medicare for specific services and cannot charge the patient more than this agreed amount for those covered services.

By accepting Medicare Assignment, the provider obtains certain benefits, such as receiving direct payments from Medicare and the assurance that they will have a broader patient base, since many seniors rely on Medicare for their health coverage. This arrangement encourages compliance with Medicare's established payment structures, which promotes cost control and standardization across medical services.

In this context, the other options reflect practices that are incompatible with the agreement established by accepting Medicare Assignment. Charging any amount or setting their own rates could lead to higher out-of-pocket costs for patients and undermine the intent of the Medicare program, which aims to keep healthcare affordable. Additionally, billing the patient for any remaining balance after accepting Medicare’s payment would violate the terms of the agreement under Medicare Assignment, as providers must accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment.