February 7, 2019: MGMA joins stakeholder group sharing concerns on surprise billing

February 7, 2019   
 
The Honorable Richard E. Neal
Chairman
Committee on Ways and Means
1102 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC  20515 

The Honorable Kevin P. Brady
Ranking Member
Committee on Ways and Means
1139E Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC  20515
 
Dear Chairman Neal and Ranking Member Brady: 
 
Patients, physicians, and policymakers are deeply concerned about the impact that unanticipated medical bills are having on patient out-of-pocket costs and the patient-physician relationship.  Health insurance plans are increasingly relying on narrow and often inadequate networks of contracted physicians, hospitals, pharmacies, and other providers as one mechanism for controlling costs.  As a result, even those patients who are diligent about seeking care from in-network physicians and hospitals may find themselves with unanticipated out-of-network bills from providers who are not in their insurance plan’s network, simply because they had no way of knowing and researching in advance all the individuals who are ultimately involved in their care.  Physicians and other providers are limited in their ability to help patients avoid these unanticipated costs because they, too, may not know in advance who will be involved in an episode of care, let alone other providers’ contract status with all the insurance plans in their communities. 

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