Like most things involving the government, it's kind of complicated, but basically:
A participating provider has agreed to submit all claims to the Medicare program. A non-participating provider may choose to submit, or not to submit, claims to Medicare on a case-by-case basis.
The biggest practical difference to a patient covered by Medicare is that if they go to a participating provider they will probably only be asked to cover the Medicare co-payment at the time of service. If they go to a non-participating provider, they may be asked to make payment in full at the time of service.
No. This is false. - A Medicare participating provider can not decide to accept assignment on a claim-by-claim basis. The provider registers with Medicare as a provider that will accept assignment and must accept assignment on all patients.
Yes
accepting
Nonparticipating provider
"Medicare Allowable" charges: Providers who participate with Medicare agree to accept the Medicare allowable charge as full payment. Bear in mind that because Medicare is an 80/20 plan, the patient is still responsible for the 20 percent of the allowable charges not paid by Medicare. * For example: You have chemotherapy in your physician's office and Medicare is billed $500.00 for the service. The Medicare allowable or assignment for your chemotherapy treatment is $300.00. Your physician is paid 80 percent of $300.00 or $240.00. You are responsible for only the $60.00 not paid by Medicare but considered allowable under Medicare UCR fee schedule. This is because participating Medicare providers may not bill the patient for the balance amounts above the Medicare allowable fee schedule (known as "balance billing"). It is important to verify that your provider "Accepts Medicare Assignment" or is a "Medicare Provider" to avoid unexpected and potentially large out-of-pocket expenses.
It means that the provider agrees to bill Medicare for treatment and accept Medicare as payment in full (except for co-pays and deductibles).
Yes
If a provider accepts Medicare they have to accept a standardized supplement. They may not accept a Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement Select plan.
Consult your mother's insurance or Medicare provider.
What provider receives reimbursement for Medicare directly from the fiscal intermediary? QIO - Quality Improvement Organization
$0
There are three categories of medical providers. Participating providers bill Medicare and accept what Medicare pays. Non Participating providers decide on a case by case basis. If they do not participate for your service, they send in a claim and the check comes to you. It is the Medicare allowed amount minus your deductible or co-insurance. Medicare allows the provider to bill you 115% of the allowed amount. The Medicare Summary Notice with the check details all of this. Private contracting providers file a form with Medicare saying that they will not accept any payment from Medicare for any service or any patient. Once they do so, they can not rejoin for two years. However, they must have the patient sign a form that the patient agrees to receive the service an pay for it without any benefit from Medicare. I will post two links that you might find helpful. Here is hoping that you do not have to call Medicare. The people are very friendly but their hands are tied. To answer the question, no. If the doctor is not a medicare provider then medicare will not reimburse the patient or the doctor.