Which practice is considered 'unbundling' in medical billing?

Unbundling in medical billing refers to the practice of submitting separate claims for services that are typically bundled together under one comprehensive code. By doing this, healthcare providers may attempt to maximize reimbursement by billing each component of a procedure individually, rather than using the bundled code that represents the entire procedure. This practice can lead to increased costs and could be viewed as a potential violation of billing regulations if it is done with the intent to manipulate payment rates.

The other options illustrate different billing practices that do not involve unbundling. Billing at an all-inclusive rate, for instance, combines various services and procedures into a single charge, which is contrary to unbundling. Handling multiple patient visits on one claim represents a different categorization approach and does not pertain to the separation of bundled services. Lastly, charging for services grouped appropriately aligns with the ethical billing practice of using bundled codes to reflect the actual services provided without fragmentation.