Carrier Receipted Bill – Definition
Where a receipted bill is submitted, benefits for the services shown on the bill should not be paid to the physician (or his/her supplier) since there can be no assignment.
The bill itself bearing the words “received payment,” “paid in full,” “paid,” or a phrase with the same meaning, is the best evidence of payment if it is signed or initialed by the physician (or his/her employee, etc.) or by the person or organization furnishing supplies or services. There will, however, be other evidence of payment that will be acceptable, such as machine-produced bills that clearly show the amount paid for each service. A rubber-stamp imprint on the bill which includes the name of the physician or other supplier is acceptable, absent a reason to question it. It is also reasonable to accept, as evidence of payment, a cancelled check that is related in time and amount to a doctor’s, or other Part B supplier’s bill.
A bill paid by promissory note is treated as a “receipted bill” unless the bill shows on its face that the note is not given and accepted unconditionally as payment of the bill. For example, a bill marked “paid by promissory note” or “$25 paid in cash, balance paid by promissory note” is treated as a receipted bill. On the other hand, a bill marked “paid subject to payment on promissory note,” or which otherwise clearly indicates that the promissory note was not unconditionally accepted in payment of it, is not a receipted bill.
Where a receipted bill is submitted, benefits for the services shown on the bill should not be paid to the physician (or his/her supplier) since there can be no assignment.
The bill itself bearing the words “received payment,” “paid in full,” “paid,” or a phrase with the same meaning, is the best evidence of payment if it is signed or initialed by the physician (or his/her employee, etc.) or by the person or organization furnishing supplies or services. There will, however, be other evidence of payment that will be acceptable, such as machine-produced bills that clearly show the amount paid for each service. A rubber-stamp imprint on the bill which includes the name of the physician or other supplier is acceptable, absent a reason to question it. It is also reasonable to accept, as evidence of payment, a cancelled check that is related in time and amount to a doctor’s, or other Part B supplier’s bill.
A bill paid by promissory note is treated as a “receipted bill” unless the bill shows on its face that the note is not given and accepted unconditionally as payment of the bill. For example, a bill marked “paid by promissory note” or “$25 paid in cash, balance paid by promissory note” is treated as a receipted bill. On the other hand, a bill marked “paid subject to payment on promissory note,” or which otherwise clearly indicates that the promissory note was not unconditionally accepted in payment of it, is not a receipted bill.