Accepting assignment on a CMS-1500 claim form indicates which of the following?

Accepting assignment on a CMS-1500 claim form indicates which of the following?

• A. The physician collects payment from the patient only
• B. The physician assigns the benefits to the patient
• C. The physician agrees to accept payment under the terms of the payer's program
• D. The physician will bill separately for each service

Answer: (C)

Accepting assignment means the physician agrees to accept the insurer’s payment as payment in full for covered services under that payer’s terms. In this arrangement, the payer can send the payment directly to the physician, and the patient is responsible only for any remaining amounts such as deductible, coinsurance, or services not covered by the plan. This is why the correct statement describes the physician agreeing to accept payment under the payer’s program. It does not imply the physician collects payment only from the patient, nor does it mean benefits are assigned to the patient, nor that billing must be done separately for each service.

Accepting assignment means the physician agrees to accept the insurer’s payment as payment in full for covered services under that payer’s terms. In this arrangement, the payer can send the payment directly to the physician, and the patient is responsible only for any remaining amounts such as deductible, coinsurance, or services not covered by the plan. This is why the correct statement describes the physician agreeing to accept payment under the payer’s program. It does not imply the physician collects payment only from the patient, nor does it mean benefits are assigned to the patient, nor that billing must be done separately for each service.