Ancillary Services
What Does Ancillary Services Mean?
Ancillary services are healthcare services that are not directly provided by a physician but still support a physician’s diagnosis and treatment. These services are typically covered by health insurance and play a crucial role in enhancing patient care.
Insuranceopedia Explains Ancillary Services
In a medical setting, the physician is responsible for the primary task of assessing and treating the patient. However, physicians rely on a support system that includes laboratories, therapists, nurses, and other healthcare providers. This collective support system is known as ancillary care.
Since services like laboratory tests, nursing care, and rehabilitative hospital stays are crucial to patient care, they are typically included in most health insurance plans alongside the primary care provided by physicians.