I had a recent experience where a surgery center insisted I pay my Medicare deductible to them when I presented for my surgery. I explained I had met part of the Medicare deductible for 2019 already from other medical bills. The reply was "we collect the Medicare deductible from all of our patinets". I had received a phone call from them prior to surgery which stated I had a Medicare deductible but did not say I had to pay it the day of the surgery. I
had always been told that physcian offices were not allowed to collect the Medicare deductible up front, that it was against Medicare regulations. I cannot find documentation of that regulation. Is it an actual regulation or just a suggestion?