In this Ask MGMA episode, hosts Daniel Williams and Cristy Good tackle a question that often trips up medical practices: Can a provider turn away a patient because of the patient’s insurance or the billing method? They lay out the ethical stakes, compliance rules, and legal pitfalls of selective scheduling. Drawing on CMS guidance and professional standards, Cristy outlines fair-billing best practices and share practical tips for leaders who must balance RVU goals with equal access to care.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction to the Ask MGMA Podcast
01:20 – Ethics and Billing: Can Providers Refuse Patients?
03:22 – Ethical Concerns and Compliance Implications
04:12 – Official Guidelines on Patient Selection
06:27 – Best Practices for Ethical and Compliant Billing
07:53 – Final Thoughts and Resources

Resources:

ASHA Ethical Guidelines
Outsources Strategies

PMC Article

Additional Resources:

• MGMA Playbooks
• MGMA Events
• MGMA Consulting
• MGMA DataDive
• MGMA Stat
• MGMA Podcasts

Email us at [email protected] if you would like to appear on an episode. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts.