Washington, D.C. – April 7, 2022 – No one should face a surprise medical bill that could lead to financial ruin. With April 11th representing 100 days since the implementation of the No Surprises Act, AHIP has published a new resource that reflects on the problem of surprise medical bills, the protections included in the No Surprises Act, the impact of the No Surprises Act on state laws, and what’s needed now for continued patient protections.
Beginning Monday, providers and hospitals also may begin challenging out-of-network payments through Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR). The No Surprises Act issue brief illustrates the importance of an IDR process that is transparent, fair, and predictable.
“Congress put patients first when it passed the No Surprises Act, and the Administration’s resulting regulations and guidance were essential to fulfilling the promise of the legislation to lower health care costs,” said Matt Eyles, President and CEO of AHIP. “Patients deserve to be protected from surprise medical bills sent by hospitals, out-of-network doctors, and other care providers, and to get more choices and lower costs by having more providers choose to participate in networks. AHIP continues to stand with consumers to defend the No Surprises Act and its rules in the wake of multiple lawsuits from providers who are suing the Biden Administration to gut these important patient protections. We should all be working together for the financial stability of all Americans.”
The No Surprises Act issue brief includes:
- A description of how surprise medical bills broke the bank for millions of Americans.
- Medical specialties that historically had been most likely to send a surprise medical bill.
- The benefits of provider participation in networks for patients’ health and financial security.
- Basic protections included in the No Surprises Act.
- How the No Surprises Act supplements existing state laws.
- A description of the Independent Dispute Resolution process.
- Further actions needed to continue to protect patients.
“The No Surprises Act provides a strong foundation for additional protections that patients need,” Eyles concluded. “We encourage Congress and the states to use it as a model for protecting patients from surprise bills by ground ambulance companies. As states consider further protections, they also should consider approaches that rely on fair, market-based prices based on locally negotiated rates – without loopholes. That’s how to ensure patients’ health care costs remain more affordable.”
Read the AHIP No Surprises Act issue brief.
Find more AHIP resources on surprise medical bills, including amicus briefs filed in the numerous suits filed to overturn key protections under the law.
About AHIP
AHIP is the national association whose members provide health care coverage, services, and solutions to hundreds of millions of Americans every day. We are committed to market-based solutions and public-private partnerships that make health care better and coverage more affordable and accessible for everyone. Visit www.ahip.org to learn how working together, we are Guiding Greater Health.