Final answer:
The 'usual, customary, and reasonable' (UCR) charge was the payment structure for medical services, which became standardized across physicians within a locality regardless of specialty in 1993.
Step-by-step explanation:
The usual, customary, and reasonable (UCR) charge refers to the payment structure that was traditionally used to determine the fees for medical services provided by a physician or other healthcare providers. Before 1993, the UCR charge for a service could vary from doctor to doctor, even within the same locality.
However, with the implementation of the Medicare Fee Schedule in 1993, the charge for a medical service became standardized for all physicians within a locality regardless of their specialty. This change was introduced to create a more uniform fee structure across the healthcare system.