Charging for Uninsured Services
Preamble
Patients may request services which are not covered by Medicare. In accordance with this Policy, a service may be billed directly to the patient in circumstances where it is not covered by Medicare or another insuring body.
Definitions
Uninsured Services – services provided by a registrant to a patient which are not covered by Medicare. Examples include, but are not limited to: certificates, forms, tests required for employment, and transfer of medical records.
Policy
The College expects registrants to adhere to the following guidelines when determining whether to charge a patient a fee for an uninsured service:
- The fee charged should be reasonable and commensurate with the service(s) provided. Registrants should consider a patient’s ability to pay when determining a fee and the possibility of waiving or reducing a fee on compassionate grounds.
- Physicians can refer to the Medical Society of PEI’s Physicians’ Guide to Uninsured Services for the recommended schedule of fees (if applicable). Physicians must let patients know if they are charging more than this guide and the reason(s) why.
- Inform patients of any fee to be charged in advance of providing the uninsured service. Posting a general notice listing fees for common uninsured services is not a substitute for directly informing patients of the fees associated with uninsured services prior to providing them.
- Maintain clear documentation in support of all fees charged for uninsured services.
Document History
Approval Date: October 9, 2025