What does Coordination of Benefits (COB) ensure in health care billing practices?

Coordination of Benefits (COB) is a process used in healthcare billing to determine how multiple health insurance policies work together when an individual is covered by more than one plan. The main purpose of COB is to ensure that the total amount paid for medical services by all insurance plans does not exceed the total charges incurred by the patient.

When option A states that "Benefits paid do not exceed 100% of charges," it accurately encapsulates the essence of COB. Under this practice, the primary and secondary payers are coordinated to cover the expenses incurred, ensuring that patients are not over-reimbursed for the same service by different insurance policies. This prevents insurance fraud and maintains the integrity of the billing process.

In contrast, the other options do not correctly reflect the primary function or goals of Coordination of Benefits. Ensuring that all accounts are collected within a specific timeframe, that all claims are processed before billing, or that uncollectable accounts are removed from records relates more to overall revenue cycle management rather than the specific coordination of benefits between multiple insurers. Each of these practices has its own importance in billing but does not directly pertain to the coordination that COB aims to achieve.