Higher Health Costs Foreseen From Revamped Billing Disputes

Health insurers, employers, and consumers could see higher costs in the wake of Biden administration guidance on settling payment disputes for emergency and out-of-network care, an official with a consumer group said.

But a medical group applauded the March 17 directive by three federal agencies to revamp instructions to arbitrators after a federal court ruled previous guidance was not in accordance with the No Surprises Act, which bars providers from billing patients for higher fees in those situations.

Medical provider groups have been grappling with consumer groups, employers, and health insurers over how payment disputes are settled in the arbitration ...