Who does an imaging center bill for services requested by a chiropractor?

An imaging center typically bills the patient or the third party responsible for payment because the financial responsibility for healthcare services generally lies with the patient or their insurance provider. When a chiropractor refers a patient for imaging services, it is customary for that imaging center to seek compensation from the patient or their insurance carrier, as they are the entities that have the contractual relationship regarding payment for services rendered. This process aligns with healthcare billing practices, where the provider of the service (the imaging center) directly communicates with the party that will cover the cost.

In this context, while a chiropractor may request the imaging and primary responsibility lies with the patient or their insurer, the imaging center does not bill the chiropractor directly. The patient's insurance typically covers the cost of the imaging services, and any co-payments or deductibles would be the patient's responsibility, reinforcing the fact that option B accurately represents the standard billing practice in such scenarios.