What do accounts receivable (A/R) represent?

Accounts receivable (A/R) represent the amounts owed to the practice by patients for services rendered or goods provided but not yet paid for. This concept is crucial in understanding a medical practice's cash flow and financial health. When patients receive treatment, they incur a debt to the practice, which is tracked as accounts receivable until the payment is collected.

This makes option B the correct choice, as it directly defines A/R in the context of a medical practice's operations. The management of A/R is vital because it impacts the practice's revenue and the ability to meet financial obligations.

Other options, such as payments due to vendors, budgeted expenses, or inventory costs, do not relate to accounts receivable but rather involve outgoing cash flows or anticipated expenditures. These concepts are important in their own right but do not define what accounts receivable represent.