Which of the following is true about roster billing?

Roster billing is a streamlined and efficient billing process primarily utilized for certain preventive services, particularly vaccines, provided to a group of Medicare beneficiaries under specific circumstances.

The statement that annual Part B deductibles do not apply to these services is accurate. Roster billing is designed to ease the administrative burden on healthcare providers, allowing them to use a simplified method for billing Medicare for specific services, especially immunizations. Under this method, beneficiaries do not have to meet the Part B deductible for these covered services, which significantly increases access to preventive care, such as vaccinations.

This approach is beneficial because it removes financial barriers for patients who might otherwise hesitate to receive important preventive services, thus improving public health outcomes. The focus on preventive care also aligns with broader healthcare policies aimed at reducing long-term healthcare costs by promoting early intervention and vaccination.

In contrast, the other options misrepresent the guidelines or contexts of roster billing, such as claiming that it only applies to inpatient services or that vaccinations are not covered, which do not accurately reflect the nature or purpose of this billing practice.