1. HCPCS Level II modifier that may be used with CPT or HCPCS Level II codes indicating a physician scarcity area. Use of this modifier affects Medicare payment. 2. Abbreviation for accounts receivable. See accounts receivable (AR).
Tag: MEDICAL
Arbitration
Proceeding for settling a dispute in which disputes are given to a third party or panel of experts to hear two sides of the story and who has power to make a legal binding decision for both parties on the case.
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US: Arbitration: A form of alternative dispute resolution where an unbiased person or panel renders an opinion as to responsibility for or extent of a loss.
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UK: An alternative to going to court for the settlement of a dispute. An independent arbitrator hears the case and makes an award in accordance with the Arbitration Act 1996. See ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.
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An alternative to litigation by submitting a dispute to the judgment of a specified number of disinterested persons called “arbitrators,” whose decision called an “award” is binding on the parties. (I)Form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (II) Alternative to court room litigation (III) Parties submit their disputes to a NEUTRAL third party called the Arbitrator (s) or Arbiter (s) for resolution (IV) Binding dispute resolution, equivalent to litigation in the courts.
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UK: an alternative to litigation for the settlement of insurance disputes; contracts often specify the place of arbitration in the event of a dispute.
Area Agency on Aging (AAA)
Local (city or county) organization, funded under the federal Older Americans Act, that plans and coordinates various social and health service programs for persons 60 years of age or more. These needs include adult day care, skilled nursing care/therapy, transportation, personal care, respite care, and meals. The network of AAA offices consists of more than 600 approved agencies.
ARGUS
Software program created by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) that helps to access provider claims data and to limit the need for the OIG to send multiple requests to insurance carriers for claims information. It can assist in detection of aberrant billing practices of providers.
ARHCP
See: Association of Registered Health Care Professionals (ARHCP).
Arise out of employment and in the course of employment (AOE/COE)
In workers’ compensation cases, a criterion for determining liability, or whether a claim is or is not compensable. AOE refers to how the activity of work led to the injury in question. It is one of the legal tests that must be met for a medical condition to be covered by workers’ compensation insurance. COE refers to how the activity the employee was engaged in at the time of injury must grow out, or be incidental to, the employment.
Arithmetic mean length of stay (AMLOS)
In the Medicare program, the average number of days for a patient’s DRG inpatient hospital stay. This figure is used to determine payment for outlier cases and to predict occupancy rates. To obtain this number, use this formula: total number of patient days divided by (÷) the total number of hospital admissions for a specific time period. It is also known as average length of stay (ALOS).
Armed services disability
Disability occurring or aggravated while the patient is in military service.
Arrears
Status of an insurance policy on which the monthly premiums have not been paid by a subscriber or member and are past due but which has a grace period that has not expired.
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Overdue premiums.
Arson
Willful, deliberate, and malicious act of setting fire to property.
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The intentional setting a fire of property. The illegal burning of a building or other property, the crime of setting fire to something.
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UK: The criminal act of setting fire to property deliberately. The resultant damage is covered by a fire policy unless the insured is the arsonist.
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The burning of a structure with intent to commit a felony. There are many types of arson but the only type the adjuster must be concerned with as a fraud is arson for profit. Most arson fires are not profit but are rather spite, revenge – or jealousy – inspired fires.
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US: The willful and malicious burning of, or attempt to burn, any structure or other property, often with criminal or fraudulent intent.