In the context of medical insurance, what does 'accounts receivable' refer to?

In the context of medical insurance, 'accounts receivable' refers specifically to payments that are owed to the medical practice by patients and insurers. This encompasses any outstanding bills that have been issued for services rendered but have not yet been collected. It represents the money that the practice expects to receive, reflecting the financial transactions where services have already been provided, but payment has not yet occurred. This aspect is crucial for managing a practice's cash flow, as it helps in tracking what income is anticipated, particularly in settings that rely heavily on third-party payers like insurance companies.

The other options refer to different financial aspects: unpaid bills from suppliers pertain to accounts payable, funds available for future claims do not align with receivables as they suggest future income rather than current outstanding amounts, and expenditures for medical supplies relate to the costs incurred by the practice rather than income owed.