For what purpose can medically unnecessary services be billed to Medicare?

Medically unnecessary services should not be billed to Medicare for any purpose, including to receive payment or avoid penalties. However, the correct choice reflects the understanding that billing for such services could serve to highlight issues with compliance. When a claim for a medically unnecessary service is submitted and subsequently denied, it can provide insight into billing practices and trigger a review of compliance protocols.

In billing scenarios, a denial can act as a deterrent against future inappropriate claims and can highlight the need for corrective measures within a healthcare provider's compliance program. This approach serves to ensure that billing practices adhere to regulatory standards and can help identify areas for improvement in order to avoid compliance violations. Therefore, while submitting medically unnecessary services for the purpose of receiving payment is not permissible and serves no legitimate purpose, using the denial as a learning experience aligns with compliance principles in healthcare.