More Medical Bill Disputes Forecast in Wake of Judge’s Decision

A federal court ruling invalidating the government’s rules for settling payment disputes for many out-of-network bills could mean more arbitration cases and higher premiums for patients, employers that cover health benefits say.

“There will be more arbitration requests because the providers think they can win more often and get more than the average payment more often,” James Gelfand, president of the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), said in an interview in reaction to a ruling handed down Monday by Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

The decision invalidated the administration’s rule establishing ...