1. (a) Conditions for split payment. If the beneficiary assigns the claim after paying part of the bill, payment may be made partly to the beneficiary and partly to the supplier.

2. (b) Payment to the supplier. Payment to the supplier who submits the assigned claim is for whichever of the following amounts is less:

   1. (1) The reasonable charge minus the amount the beneficiary had already paid to the supplier; or
   2. (2) The full Part B benefit due for the services furnished.
3. (c) Payment to the beneficiary. Any part of the Part B benefit which, on the basis of paragraph (b) of this section, is not payable to the supplier, is paid to the beneficiary.

4. (d) Examples.

   Example 1.An assigned bill of $300 on which partial payment of $100 has been made is submitted to the carrier. The carrier determines that $300 is the reasonable charge for the service furnished. Total payment due is 80 percent of $300 or $240. Of this amount, $200 (the difference between the $100 partial payment and the $300 reasonable charge) is paid to the supplier. The remaining $40 is paid to the beneficiary.

   Example 2.An assigned bill of $325 on which partial payment of $275 has been made is submitted to the carrier. The carrier determines that $275 is the reasonable charge for the services. Total payment due is 80 percent of $275 or $220. The $220 is paid to the beneficiary, since any payment to the supplier, when added to the $275 partial payment would exceed the reasonable charge for the services furnished.

[53 FR 6641, Mar. 2, 1988; 53 FR 12945, Apr. 20, 1988]