What is the Medicare write-off for a participating provider billing $75 when the allowed amount is $60?

In this scenario, understanding how Medicare payment structures work is crucial. A participating provider has agreed to accept the Medicare-approved amount, which in this case is $60, as full payment for their services. When the provider bills $75 for a service, the difference between the billed amount and the allowed amount will be written off.

To find the write-off, you subtract the allowed amount from the billed amount. Here’s the calculation:

$75 (billed amount) - $60 (allowed amount) = $15 (write-off).

This $15 is the portion that the provider cannot collect from the patient, as Medicare dictates that the provider must write off the excess amount billed beyond the allowed charge. Therefore, the correct answer reflects the amount that the provider must forgo as part of their agreement with Medicare to participate in this program.