San Antonio Congressman Lloyd Doggett today introduced a bill designed to protect patients from those 'surprise bills,' which frequently show up in the mail weeks after the patient receives treatment, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The bills are the result of patients going to the hospital, emergency room or doctor prescribed as 'In Network' by the patient's insurance plan. But later it turns out that one of the other physicians, lab technician, radiologist, or some other professional was 'Out of Network,' and the patient winds up paying full price for a medical professional they didn't select and had no idea was treating them.“
For far too many Americans, unexpected bills become part of the painful recovery process,” said Doggett, Ranking Democrat on the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy. “Patients should not be caught unaware by high out-of-pocket costs from out-of-network providers."
The End Surprise Billing Act requires informed financial consent from patients before being treated by a provider not included on their insurance plan. If it is not possible to give consent, as in the case of a medical emergency, the patient would only pay what they would pay for the covered benefits from a health professional on their insurance plan.
The San Antonio Democrat says this measure needs to be a key part of an rewrite or reexamination of the nation's health care laws.
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