What is the process whereby the patient allows the payer to directly reimburse the provider called?

The process whereby the patient allows the payer to directly reimburse the provider is known as the assignment of benefits. This arrangement means that when a patient receives care, they can authorize their insurance company to send payment directly to the healthcare provider, rather than to themselves. This simplifies the billing process and ensures that healthcare providers receive payment promptly for their services.

The assignment of benefits is particularly advantageous for patients, as it reduces their out-of-pocket costs at the time of service and alleviates the burden of having to manage the reimbursement process themselves. Providers often prefer this method, as it minimizes the delays that can occur when payments are routed through the patient first.

The other options, while related to healthcare finance and insurance, do not directly describe this particular process. For instance, accepting assignment refers to the willingness of a provider to accept the allowed amount from a payer as full payment. Coordination of benefits pertains to how multiple insurance policies interact when a patient has more than one plan. Authorization to release information involves patient consent for sharing their medical information, not directly related to payment transactions.