Final answer:
Healthcare providers are generally required to submit Medicare claims electronically, according to the ACA's aim to improve healthcare efficiency through EMRs. There may be exceptions for certain healthcare practitioners or small providers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks if healthcare providers are required to submit all Medicare claims for reimbursement electronically. According to the regulations introduced by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), there is an emphasis on reducing healthcare costs and increasing efficiency through the use of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). Although the ACA encourages the shift towards electronic submission, the specific requirement to submit Medicare claims electronically depends on the size and type of the provider. As a general rule, with few exceptions, healthcare providers are required to submit Medicare claims electronically -- they can seek an exception to file paper claims if they are unable to submit them electronically. However, individual small providers or certain healthcare practitioners may be exempt from this electronic submission requirement under specific circumstances.
To address the specific choices given in the question: Medicare claims are indeed required to be submitted electronically, aligning with efforts to improve healthcare quality and reduce costs through the adoption of EMRs. Therefore, option B, 'No, healthcare providers have the choice to submit claims electronically or via paper forms' is not entirely correct. The requirement is to switch to electronic records and submissions where possible, but with noted exceptions. Option C, 'Electronic submission is mandatory for hospitals but optional for individual healthcare practitioners' is partially correct, as certain small-scale or individual practitioners may be exempt or granted exceptions. However, option D is incorrect, indicating that Medicare claims are not primarily submitted through phone communication.