A Federal Solution to Surprise Billing

• August 27, 2021

• Lisa A. Lucido , Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman PC
• Matt Reed , Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman PC
• Tiana Korley , University of Michigan Office of the General Counsel

After years of debating a federal “fix” to end surprise billing, Congress enacted the No Surprises Act (Act) on December 22, 2020. The Act is intended to bring greater certainty to providers, payers, and patients regarding out-of-network reimbursement. On July 1, 2021, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury and the Office of Personnel Management (collectively, the Departments) published an interim final rule (IFR) implementing certain provisions of the Act. This bulletin provides a high-level summary of the first round of rulemaking. Note that the IFR is not a proposed rule; it is the actual rule unless the Departments make modifications based on the public comments they solicited.

ARTICLE TAGS

• Payers, Plans, and Managed Care Practice Group
• Health Insurance
• Health Policy and Administration