[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 42, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 42CFR424.64]

[Page 949-950]
 
                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH
 
                             HUMAN SERVICES
 
PART 424--CONDITIONS FOR MEDICARE PAYMENT--Table of Contents
 
        Subpart E--To Whom Payment is Made in Special Situations
 
Sec. 424.64  Payment after beneficiary's death: Bill has not been paid.

    (a) Scope. This section specifies whom Medicare pays, and the 
conditions for payment when the beneficiary has died and the bill has 
not been paid.
    (b) Situation. (1) The beneficiary has received covered Part B 
services furnished by a physician or other supplier.

[[Page 950]]

    (2) The beneficiary died without making an assignment to the 
physician or other supplier or receiving Medicare payment.
    (3) The bill has not been paid.
    (c) To whom payment is made. In the situation described in paragraph 
(b) of this section, Medicare pays as follows:
    (1) Payment to the supplier. Medicare pays the physician or other 
supplier if he or she--
    (i) Files a claim on a CMS-prescribed form in accordance with the 
applicable requirements of this subpart;
    (ii) Upon request from the carrier, provides evidence that the 
services for which it claims payment were, in fact, furnished; and
    (iii) Agrees in writing to accept the reasonable charge as the full 
charge for the services.
    (2) Payment to a person who assumes legal obligation to pay for the 
services. If the physician or other supplier does not agree to accept 
the reasonable charge as full charge for the service, Medicare pays any 
person who submits to the carrier all of the following:
    (i) A statement indicating that he or she has assumed legal 
obligation to pay for the services.
    (ii) A claim on a CMS-prescribed form in accordance with the 
requirements of this subpart. (If a claim had been submitted by or on 
behalf of the beneficiary before he or she died, submission of another 
claim form is not required; a written request by the person seeking 
payment meets the requirement for a claim.)
    (iii) An itemized bill that identifies the claimant as the person to 
whom the physician or other supplier holds responsible for payment. (If 
such an itemized bill had been submitted by or on behalf of the 
beneficiary before he or she died, submission of another itemized bill 
is not required.)
    (iv) If the intermediary or carrier requests it, evidence that the 
services were actually furnished.

[53 FR 6634, Mar. 2, 1988, as amended at 53 FR 28388, July 28, 1988]