Which of the following is true regarding adjustments made by insurance companies?

The statement that adjustments can reduce the total bill amount acknowledged by the insurer is accurate. In healthcare billing, when an insurance company processes a claim, they may determine that certain services were not covered or were only partially covered. As a result, they make adjustments to the billed amount, which could reflect contractual obligations, fee schedule limitations, or disallowed services. These adjustments effectively lower the total amount that the insurer recognizes as being owed for a service, thus impacting what the healthcare provider can collect from the patient and the insurer.

Adjustments play a critical role in billing as they help align the provider's charges with the insurer's payment policies. Therefore, it is important for providers to understand how adjustments work and how they can affect revenue cycle management.

Regarding the other options, adjustments are not always the responsibility of the patient; they are often absorbed by the healthcare provider depending on the terms of their agreement with the insurance company. Not all adjustments are permanent, as they can sometimes be appealed or revised if new information comes to light. Lastly, adjustments are not limited to out-of-network providers; they apply to both in-network and out-of-network services, depending on the specifics of the insurance contract and the nature of the services provided.