Which of the following is NOT a function of Utilization Review?

Utilization Review (UR) is a process employed in healthcare settings to assess the necessity, appropriateness, and efficiency of the use of medical services, procedures, and facilities. The primary focus of UR is to ensure that patients receive the right care at the right time while minimizing unnecessary healthcare spending.

Handling patient billing directly is not a function of Utilization Review. Instead, UR focuses on aspects directly related to patient care and resource management, such as reducing unnecessary admissions, managing the approved length of stay to ensure that patients are hospitalized only as long as necessary, and obtaining pre-certifications to confirm that certain medical services are warranted and covered by insurance before they are provided. Each of these functions contributes to the effective management of healthcare resources and costs, while the handling of patient billing pertains more to the financial and administrative aspects of healthcare services. Therefore, the correct answer reflects a clear distinction from the core objectives of Utilization Review.