Can you bill a Medi-Cal patient?

Asked by: Fredrick Luettgen  |  Last update: July 2, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (74 votes)

Billing Medi-Cal beneficiaries violates Federal law as outlined in section 1902(n)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act, as modified by section 4714 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. This section of the Act is available at: http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title19/1902.htm.

Is it illegal to bill Medi-Cal patients?

This means that you cannot be charged for co-pays, co-insurance or deductibles. If a health care provider does charge you, this is called balance billing, and it is against the law. This applies to both your Medicare and Medi-Cal providers.

Can you charge a Medi-Cal patient?

This is known as balance billing, or “improper billing,” and is illegal under both federal and state law. This means dual eligible beneficiaries cannot be charged for co-pays, co-insurance, or deductibles. Similarly, this protection also applies to Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMBs).

Can you bill a patient that has Medicaid?

Rule 2: Providers may NOT bill Medicaid beneficiaries for covered services only the allowable co-payments, co-insurance, or deductibles.

How do I bill Medi-Cal?

For assistance with billing and claims, please contact the Telephone Service Center at (800) 541-5555 (outside of California, please call 916-636-1980) or online at "Contact Medi-Cal." For the most current information about billing and claims submission, refer to the "Medi-Cal Newsroom" area on the Medi-Cal home page.

Medical Billing Tips - Charging Patients No Show Fees

17 related questions found

Does Medi-Cal need to be reimbursed?

Medi-Cal is California's free or low-cost medical assistance program for low-income people. What is Medi-Cal Recovery? When a Medi-Cal recipient dies, the state can seek repayment for the cost of services received, including insurance premiums paid and payments made to managed care plans.

How do I bill Medicaid as a provider?

Providers who bill Medicaid electronically can also receive payment several weeks earlier. Electronic billing can be done through an internal electronic health records (EHR) system, such as Foothold, or a health care clearinghouse. Paper billing can be done by mail or fax.

Can you charge Medi-Cal patients no show fees?

CALIFORNIA™

As a Medi-Cal member, you are responsible for making and keeping your dental appointments. If you cancel, reschedule, or miss your dental appointment, your dentist cannot charge you for the missed appointment.

Can you bill a Medicare patient?

Medicare requires an ABN be signed by the patient prior to beginning the procedure before you can bill the patient for a service Medicare denies as investigational or not medically necessary. Otherwise, Medicare assumes the patient did not know and prohibits the patient from being liable for the service.

Can a provider refuse to bill Medicaid?

Answer: In this instance, the provider has the right to go either way, so there is no real avenue to “force” a provider to bill Medicaid for services. Under Medicaid's provider agreement, the hospital has the right to bill all other insurers first, with Medicaid being the final payer.

Does Medi-Cal cover all bills?

Medi-Cal covers most medically necessary care. This includes doctor and dentist appointments, prescription drugs, vision care, family planning, mental health care, and drug or alcohol treatment. Medi-Cal also covers transportation to these services.

Can a doctor bill you 2 years later in California?

CCP § 337 for almost all contracts: 4 years from the date of the bill. Notice the “open book” exception that extends the SOL to the last service rendered and §360 which extends it to the date of last payment.

Is Medi-Cal a public charge?

Regardless, other than long-term institutionalized care paid for by the government—nursing home or mental health institution care are examples, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services—Medi-Cal is exempt from the public charge rule.

Can you charge a Medi-Cal patient cash?

Generally, no. The only exception is if the facility is not certified to accept payment from the Medi-Cal program.

What is Medi-Cal billing abuse?

Abuse includes any practice that does not provide patients with medically necessary services or meet professionally recognized standards of care. The difference between “fraud” and “abuse” depends on specific facts, circumstances, intent, and knowledge.

Why does no one accept Medi-Cal?

The most frequent reasons physicians limit Medi-Cal patients in their practices are payment rates and administrative hassles.

Can I bill a Medi-Cal patient?

Call your doctor's office. If you get a bill, contact your doctor's office to confirm they have all of your insurance information. “That can resolve it quickly,” Lee said. Also, be clear that billing Medi-Cal patients for any balance not covered by insurance is a violation of the law.

Can I charge a Medicaid patient?

If you have Medicaid, a doctor or hospital who accepts Medicaid is prohibited from balance billing you for services that Medicaid covers.

Can you charge a Medicare patient?

Background: CMS's policy is to allow physicians and suppliers to charge Medicare beneficiaries for missed appointments, provided that they do not discriminate against Medicare beneficiaries but also charge non-Medicare patients for missed appointments.

Can you charge a Medi-Cal patient?

Can a doctor charge me for copies of my medical records or x-rays? Yes, pursuant to Health & Safety Code section 123110, a doctor can charge 25 cents per page plus a reasonable clerical fee. For diagnostic films, such as an x-ray, MRI, CT and PET scans, you can be charged the actual cost of copying the films.

Do I have to pay anything with Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal offers free or low-cost health coverage for California residents who meet eligibility requirements. Most applicants who apply through Covered California and enroll in Medi-Cal will receive care through managed health plans.

Can a patient be billed for non covered services?

Whether or Not They Support Medical Necessity

Similar to the previous example, Medicare tends to classify any services that aren't considered medically reasonable or necessary for a patient's condition as not a covered service, meaning you can bill them directly for it.

Can a provider bill a Medicare patient?

In short, providers may not bill Medicare for noncovered services, but, provided the patient has been informed that the service is not covered and still requests the service, the patient can be billed directly and will be personally responsible.

How to become a medi-cal biller?

How to Become a Medical Biller and Coder in California
  1. Step 1: Choose A Medical Billing and Coding Training Program. ...
  2. Step 2: Complete Your Coursework. ...
  3. Step 3: Prepare For The CPC Certification Exam. ...
  4. Step 4: Create A Resume & Apply For Jobs. ...
  5. Step 5: Start Your New Medical Billing And Coding Career.

How are providers reimbursed by Medicaid?

States may offer Medicaid benefits on a fee-for-service (FFS) basis, through managed care plans, or both. Under the FFS model, the state pays providers directly for each covered service received by a Medicaid beneficiary.