eement, when sending a bill to Medicare there is what they call an obligated to accept amount. This means that regardless of what the doctor wants to charge for the service, this is theIf it seems that the FA0 specifications go on forever, they pretty much do. In this medical billing installment, concentrating on electronic billing of claims using NSF 3.01 specifications, we'll be focusing on FA0 record fields 48 through 55.

FA0 field 48, positions 224 - 230, is the obligated to accept amount. If this sounds like strange English then a little explanation is in order. When billing a medical carrier or payer such as Medicare, most doctors are what are called participating providers. This means they participate in the universal Medicare program. As participating providers, one of the things that they are bound to is the fees set by the Medicare administration for each service provided. By accepting this agreement, when sending a bill to Medicare there is what they call an obligated to accept amount. This means that regardless of what the doctor wants to charge for the service, this is the

ons, we'll be focusing on FA0 record fields 48 through 55.

FA0 field 48, positions 224 - 230, is the obligated to accept amount. If this sounds like strange English then a little explanation is in order. When billing a medical carrier or payer such as Medicare, most doctors are what are called participating providers. This means they participate in the universal Medicare program. As participating providers, one of the things that they are bound to is the fees set by the Medicare administration for each service provided. By accepting this agreement, when sending a bill to Medicare there is what they call an obligated to accept amount. This means that regardless of what the doctor wants to charge for the service, this is the

explanation is in order. When billing a medical carrier or payer such as Medicare, most doctors are what are called participating providers. This means they participate in the universal Medicare program. As participating providers, one of the things that they are bound to is the fees set by the Medicare administration for each service provided. By accepting this agreement, when sending a bill to Medicare there is what they call an obligated to accept amount. This means that regardless of what the doctor wants to charge for the service, this is thel Medicare program. As participating providers, one of the things that they are bound to is the fees set by the Medicare administration for each service provided. By accepting this agreement, when sending a bill to Medicare there is what they call an obligated to accept amount. This means that regardless of what the doctor wants to charge for the service, this is theeement, when sending a bill to Medicare there is what they call an obligated to accept amount. This means that regardless of what the doctor wants to charge for the service, this is the amount that he agrees to receive from Medicare when payment is made. This is the amount that is transmitted in this field.

FA0 field 49, positions 231 - 237, is the drug discount amount. For claims where there are drugs or medications involved, this is the amount of discount that the patient is entitled to for that particular drug. This field is not used too often but it is available and functional.

FA0 field 50, position 238, is the type of units indicator. This is an indicator that is also seldom used to show how the units are being billed, whether it be box, carton or single unit.

FA0 field 51, positions 239 - 245, is the approved amount. When all is said and done, this is the amount that is approved by the p