Surprise Medical Billing Archives

Tennessee Senate Approves Balanced Billing Legislation

January 31, 2022January 30, 2022 Chris Butler

Members of the Tennessee State Senate this week unanimously passed legislation that ends the practice of surprise or unexpected medical billing in Tennessee, also called balanced billing. Surprise Medical Billing happens when a patient receives out-of-network care without his or her knowledge – either in an emergency or during a visit to an in-network facility. Weeks later, insurance companies send bills demanding patients pay money for services they assumed insurance would cover.

Ohio General Assembly Passes Legislation to Protect Against Surprise Health Care Bills

December 25, 2020December 24, 2020 Admin

The Ohio General Assembly made history Tuesday and took a step to reduce health care costs for Ohioans. All that’s left is a signature from Gov. Mike DeWine.

When the Ohio Senate voted to support Substitute House Bill 388, which passed the Ohio House in May, it put into motion what would be a prohibition on surprise or balance billing. If DeWine signs the bill, Ohio will become the first state in the nation to ban such practices.

Marsha Blackburn Urges Congress to Reject Price Controls on Surprise Medical Billing

December 14, 2020December 13, 2020 Chris Butler

The Washington, D.C.-based Taxpayers Protection Alliance has accused big insurance companies of trying to push a bill through Congress that aims to ban Surprise Medical Bills and said “they’re really just lining their own pockets.” TPA members, in their ad, said that Congressional efforts to address Surprise Medical Billing are really just “a handout to the big insurance companies that would leave our frontline doctors out in the cold.”

New Poll Seems to Contradict U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander on Surprise Medical Billing

October 3, 2020October 2, 2020 Chris Butler

Members of the Washington, D.C.-based Taxpayer Protection Alliance (TPA) have released a new poll about surprise medical billing that apparently rebukes U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and his position on the matter.

As The Tennessee Star reported last year, surprise medical billing happens when a patient receives out-of-network care without his or her knowledge – either in an emergency or during a visit to an in-network facility. Weeks later, insurance companies send bills demanding patients pay money for services they assumed insurance would cover.

Conservative Group Wants to Steer Lamar Alexander and Other Legislators Toward Market-Based Solutions on Health Insurance

March 2, 2020March 1, 2020 Chris Butler

The Washington, D.C.-based Heritage Action last week argued against U.S. Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander’s Surprise Medical Billing legislation and said conservatives must steer legislators away from what it called “the heavy hand of big government.”

Commentary: Billionaire Know-It-Alls Side with Insurance Companies on Surprise Medical Billing

February 4, 2020February 4, 2020 Admin

You may have never heard of them, but there is a new, young billionaire couple determined to leave their mark on society. John and Laura Arnold are not interested in the type of philanthropy that builds libraries and college buildings or feeds, clothes, shelters, and educates the poor. No, like George Soros, the Arnolds are on a mission to “change the country,” whether we like it or not. When these arrogant elitists are not busy trying to erode our gun rights, promoting abortion, funding spying on citizens, or trying to upend our electoral system, they are busy trying to cut medical professionals pay. Specifically, the liberal power couple wants to address the issue of surprise medical billing by reducing the amount of money that medical professionals are paid for providing out-of-network care to patients.

Lamar Alexander Persists on Surprise Medical Billing Legislation, Despite Opposition from Free Market Groups

January 28, 2020January 27, 2020 Chris Butler

More free-market groups oppose U.S. Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee on the surprise medical billing legislation he’s pushing.

Lamar Alexander’s ‘Surprise Billing’ Health Legislation Would Insert Federal Bureaucrats Into Health Decisions, Group Says

December 15, 2019December 14, 2019 Chris Butler

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee have reached a deal on health care legislation that includes a proposal to address payment disputes over surprise medical bills.