The agency will not enforce a surprise billing requirement that requires good faith estimates to include cost estimates from co-providers and co-facilities.
view more »HHS Issues RFI on No Surprises Act Requirements
Sept. 20, 2022 ||HHS seeks input on the No Surprises Act's advanced explanation of benefits and good faith estimate requirements for insured individuals; comments are due Nov. 15.
view more »Administration Publishes No Surprises Act Final Rule
Aug. 23, 2022 ||The rule finalizes disclosure requirements for the qualifying payment amount and select provisions for the related independent dispute resolution process.
view more »CMS Opens Federal IDR Portal
April 19, 2022 ||The independent dispute resolution process can be initiated to resolve payment disputes between health care providers and issuers.
view more »CMS Issues FAQs on Surprise Billing, Good Faith Estimates
April 11, 2022 ||Two new documents provide guidance for health care providers on No Surprises Act compliance and good faith estimates for uninsured or self-pay patients.
view more »Federal Judge Strikes Down Key Portion of Surprise Billing Rule
March 8, 2022 ||The court ruled the qualifying payment amount should not be the main factor in determining payment for out-of-network services in independent dispute resolution.
view more »Guidance on Patient-Provider Dispute Resolution Process
Jan. 11, 2022 ||The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released guidance and example templates for good faith estimates and the surprise billing patient-provider dispute resolution process.
view more »Guidance Released for IDR Entities
Jan. 4, 2022 ||New guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reviews the timeline for open negotiations and initiating the federal independent dispute resolution process under the No Surprises Act.
view more »The new document explains various provisions under part II surprise billing regulations, including that all financial assistance should be reflected in the good faith estimate regardless of the amount or type of discount. The new regulations take effect Jan. 1, 2022.
view more »Association Comments on Second Part of Surprise Billing Rules
Dec. 7, 2021 ||America’s Essential Hospitals commented on the second interim final rule implementing the No Surprises Act. The association urged HHS to revise good faith estimate requirements and create an IDR process that does not favor payers over providers.
view more »Administration Releases Part II of Surprise Billing Regulations
Oct. 5, 2021 ||The departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Treasury, and Labor and the Office of Personnel Management issued Part II of the No Surprises Act interim final rule with comment period.
view more »Association Comments on First Part of Surprise Billing Rules
Sept. 7, 2021 ||In a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, America's Essential Hospitals commented on the first interim final rule implementing the No Surprises Act. The association urged HHS to delay implementation until after the COVID-19 public health emergency, among other requests.
view more »The rule, released by the departments of Health and Human Services, the Treasury, and Labor and the Office of Personnel Management, bars health care insurers, carriers, and providers from billing patients more than in-network cost sharing amounts in certain circumstances.
view more »New Rule Aims to Protect Patients from Surprise Billing
July 6, 2021 ||On July 1, the Biden administration released part 1 of the No Surprises Act interim final rule. Passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, the rule establishes new patient protections from balanced billing and excessive cost-sharing, known as surprise billing.
view more »The $2.3 trillion package to fund the government, provide new COVID-19 relief, and stimulate the economy would eliminate a $4 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments and add $3 billion to the Provider Relief Fund, among numerous other changes.
view more »On the Hill: CR Extends Government Funding through Dec. 18
Dec. 15, 2020 ||The continuing resolution delays until Dec. 19 a scheduled $4 billion cut to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments. Meanwhile, lawmakers introduce a new, two-part $908 billion legislative proposal for COVID-19 relief, as well as a deal on legislation regarding surprise medical bills.
view more »On the Hill: House Panels Approve Separate Surprise Billing Plans
Feb. 15, 2020 ||The Ways and Means legislation would preserve the ability of providers and health plans to negotiate payment rates through independent dispute resolution, while the Education and Labor plan would impose federal benchmark rates for charges of more than $750.
view more »2019 State Health Policy Review
Feb. 11, 2020 ||Amid federal gridlock, 2019 was a prolific year for state-level policymaking on important issues for essential hospitals and their communities.
view more »On the Hill: Surprise Billing Legislation, MFAR Working Group
Feb. 11, 2020 ||In its bipartisan proposal on surprise medical bills, the House Committee on Ways and Means would preserve the ability of providers and health plans to negotiate the payment rate for out-of-network care. Also, the president releases his FY 2021 budget plan, including $920 billion in Medicaid cuts.
view more »Statement on Ways and Means Surprise Billing Proposal
Feb. 11, 2020 ||The Consumer Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2020 takes an important step toward a solution to surprise medical bills that protects patients and increases transparency without putting hospitals at a disadvantage in negotiations with insurers.
view more »Four States Start 2020 with New Surprise Billing Laws
Jan. 22, 2020 ||Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Washington join dozens of other states already enforcing laws to shield patients from balance billing.
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