Federal Officials and Advocates Working to Ensure Patients Get New Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

By Consumers For Quality Care, on January 19, 2022

Federal officials, the health care industry, and advocates are working to ensure that patients receive new protections against surprise medical billing that went into effect January 1, according to The Washington Post. 

Those involved in the effort are planning educational campaigns, providing technical training, and distributing materials for health care administrators on how to comply with the new law.

“I certainly have some nerves about the logistics of this all working out, and not because I am skeptical that every doctor in the country knows about the protections,” said Loren Adler, an associate director of the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy.

The No Surprises Act also requires the Biden administration to set up a national consumer complaints system, where patients can submit a complaint online or call a toll-free number to get federal help investigating their medical bill. The help line has received over 300 calls since it launched.

“It’s really going to be critical that the public’s aware of their rights,” said Jane Sheehan, the director of federal relations at Families USA, a consumer health advocacy group.

The benefits of the new law will not be fully realized until consumers understand the law and their rights. CQC urges regulators and lawmakers to implement the necessary resources to educate consumers on how the law protects them and their family.