Maryland Judge Allows Second Surprise Billing Lawsuit Proceed

A federal Maryland judge refused to dismiss a second surprise medical billing case, further cracking open the door to doctors asking the courts to intervene when insurers don’t pay awards won through arbitration.

The No Surprises Act requires health insurers and doctors to undergo an arbitration process in the event of most unexpected out-of-network bills, in order to protect patients from balance bills. Doctors have flooded the courts with lawsuits alleging insurance companies aren’t paying when they lose, but courts have largely sided with insurers in determining that enforcement rests with the Department of Health and Human Services.

Judges in ...