Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas A partnership of statewide consumer and healthcare advocacy groups today applauded the filing of legislation in the Texas House of Representatives to protect patients from getting surprise medical bills after health emergencies.
Surprise medical bills are unexpected billings to a patient for medical care not covered by their insurance. Often surprise bills occur after patients are treated in the emergency room of an in-network" facility by physicians or other medical specialists not in the patients insurance network.
While the concept of surprise medical bills is unfamiliar to many consumers the practice also known as balance billing" is common and may be on the rise in Texas. In some cases the bills can be substantial driving patients into debt and even bankruptcy.
On Thursday State Representative John Smithee (R-Amarillo) filed House Bill 1638 to take consumers out of the middle of billing disputes between out-of-network health providers and insurers. The legislation seeks to hold consumers harmless from all out-of-network emergency bills for services at emergency rooms whether the care is provided at an in-network hospital or a free-standing emergency room. Under HB 1638 consumers will only be responsible for their usual in-network cost sharing.
HB 1638 allows providers and insurers to access a dispute resolution process to find a fair price for emergency medical services. The legislation requires that consumers be sent a notice about the dispute resolution process and informed of their right to participate in the procedures.
The legislation is supported by a partnership of consumer groups including AARP Consumers Union National Multiple Sclerosis Society Center for Public Policy Priorities and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Leaders of the groups are calling on lawmakers to hold hearings on HB 1638 and to pass the measure this session.
Surprise medical bills are an expensive and unfair burden for patients and their families" said AARP Texas Director Bob Jackson. Texans deserve a healthcare system that adequately compensates providers but doesnt take advantage of consumers after health emergencies. Passage of House Bill 1638 is whats needed to hold patients harmless from surprise medical bills."
Blake Hutson a senior associate with Consumers Union agreed. Its inexcusable that consumers are being saddled with these unexpected bills after medical emergencies" said Hutson. Families deserve the peace of mind that should come with paying for health insurance each month.
Research by the Center for Public Policy Priorities has brought added attention to the issue this legislative session. Its encouraging to see legislative steps toward protecting consumers in emergencies -- when they cant select their doctor -- by guaranteeing that they receive in-network rates at in-network hospitals said Stacey Pogue Senior Policy Analyst at CPPP.
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas A partnership of statewide consumer and healthcare advocacy groups today applauded the filing of legislation in the Texas House of Representatives to protect patients from getting surprise medical bills after health emergencies.
Surprise medical bills are unexpected billings to a patient for medical care not covered by their insurance. Often surprise bills occur after patients are treated in the emergency room of an in-network" facility by physicians or other medical specialists not in the patients insurance network.
While the concept of surprise medical bills is unfamiliar to many consumers the practice also known as balance billing" is common and may be on the rise in Texas. In some cases the bills can be substantial driving patients into debt and even bankruptcy.
On Thursday State Representative John Smithee (R-Amarillo) filed House Bill 1638 to take consumers out of the middle of billing disputes between out-of-network health providers and insurers. The legislation seeks to hold consumers harmless from all out-of-network emergency bills for services at emergency rooms whether the care is provided at an in-network hospital or a free-standing emergency room. Under HB 1638 consumers will only be responsible for their usual in-network cost sharing.
HB 1638 allows providers and insurers to access a dispute resolution process to find a fair price for emergency medical services. The legislation requires that consumers be sent a notice about the dispute resolution process and informed of their right to participate in the procedures.
The legislation is supported by a partnership of consumer groups including AARP Consumers Union National Multiple Sclerosis Society Center for Public Policy Priorities and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Leaders of the groups are calling on lawmakers to hold hearings on HB 1638 and to pass the measure this session.
Surprise medical bills are an expensive and unfair burden for patients and their families" said AARP Texas Director Bob Jackson. Texans deserve a healthcare system that adequately compensates providers but doesnt take advantage of consumers after health emergencies. Passage of House Bill 1638 is whats needed to hold patients harmless from surprise medical bills."
Blake Hutson a senior associate with Consumers Union agreed. Its inexcusable that consumers are being saddled with these unexpected bills after medical emergencies" said Hutson. Families deserve the peace of mind that should come with paying for health insurance each month.
Research by the Center for Public Policy Priorities has brought added attention to the issue this legislative session. Its encouraging to see legislative steps toward protecting consumers in emergencies -- when they cant select their doctor -- by guaranteeing that they receive in-network rates at in-network hospitals said Stacey Pogue Senior Policy Analyst at CPPP.
