Ask MGMA: Is It Ethical to Limit Patients Based on How Visits Are Billed?

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 PlaybooksMGMA EventsMGMA ConsultingMGMA DataDiveMGMA StatMGMA Podcasts Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com 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 advisor@mgma.com. Don't forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts.