If you have gone to the hospital, thinking you were going to a facility where your health insurance company covered your treatment, but later were billed by a medical provider who was not covered by your health insurance, there is reason to smile as of the new year. Sometimes this surprise medical billing is referred to as “balance billing,” where the out of network provider bills a consumer for the remainder of the bill after health insurance pays it.
New Legislation Is On The Way To Ban Surprise Medical Billing
Bipartisan legislation from the federal government banning surprise medical bills will go into effect as of the new year.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, effective January 1, 2022, new federal protections championed by the Biden Harris administration will help in protecting patients from surprise medical bills. These protections are being implemented under the No Surprises Act.
The effect of the legislation is to prevent hospitals from charging out-of-network bills for health care providers that are not included in a patient’s insurance network. The idea is that you will no longer be charged out-of-network costs for medical providers you were not expecting or wanting to participate in your treatment.
This legislation also requires that uninsured and patients who self-pay receive information of their anticipated costs, plus details about their rights.
No more surprise medical bills.
Where Can I Find More Information About This Legislation?
As reported by the New York Times, if you are having a medical emergency and go to an urgent care center or emergency room for health care services or emergency care, you can’t be charged more than the cost-sharing you are accustomed to for in-network services. Here is a link to that article:
For more information about your upcoming patient protection rights, you can visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website.
If you suspect you have been a victim of a surprise medical bill or have surprise bills, please contact The Wilhite Law Firm for a free initial consultation. The experienced legal team of attorneys at our law firm are here to serve you.
