See: participating provider (par) or participating physician.
Tag: USA
Affiliated hospital
See: hospital affiliation.
Affiliation period
Length of time managed care plan members must wait before receiving benefits. It is an alternative to preexisting condition exclusions seen in insurance plans. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), an affiliation period may not last longer than 2 months or, if a late enrollee, 3 months. It begins on the member’s date of enrollment. If a member changes coverage more than 3 months after the enrollment date, the new plan cannot impose an affiliation period.
Aforesaid
As previously stated.
AFS
See: alternative financing system (AFS).
AG
HCPCS Level II modifier that may be used with CPT or HCPCS Level II codes indicating services performed by a primary physician. Use of this modifier affects Medicare payment.
Against medical advice (AMA)
Discharge status of a patient who leaves the hospital before being released by a physician.
Age analysis
Procedure of systematically arranging the accounts receivable, by age, from the date of service.
Age break
Phrase used in insurance rating purposes that relates to the grouping of age categories (e.g., females age 18-25).
Age change
Date halfway between natural birth dates when the age of an individual changes to the next higher age. It is referred to when an individual is purchasing life insurance; the insurance age being the nearer birthday. When purchasing an annuity, the annuity age considered is the last previous birthday.