Darla Thomas has been a patient of Dr. Elton's for 10 years. Darla has several chronic conditions, requiring frequent visits and regular diagnostic tests. Following her last visit, she informed Dr. Elton her employer-sponsored insurance plan had changed, and one of the consequences was that Darla would have to pay higher out-of-pocket costs for her visits and diagnostics. Dr. Elton has asked you to review Darla's prior billing statements. Upon doing so, you discovered Darla has outstanding bills for her last three visits (with the oldest reaching 120 days past due). If Dr. Elton "fired" Darla as a patient due to non-payment, would there be any legal and/or ethical implications? If Dr. Elton continues to care for Darla, how will the practice be impacted, financially?

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If Dr Elton fires Darla as a patient due to nonpayment there may be legal and ethical implications t... View the full answer