CMS Letter Addressing Medicaid Payment For Services Covered That Are Available Without Charge To The Beneficiary

On December 15, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued this letter, which addresses billing for "free care" under Medicaid. Free care refers to services that are covered under the state Medicaid plan, but are also available free of charge to the community at large. The purpose of the letter was to provide guidance in order to ensure that Medicaid payment was allowed for any covered services for Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries when provided by Medicaid-qualified clinical professionals, and to remove ambiguity about the application of a "free care" policy.

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