Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) introduced legislation on Thursday that would eliminate the arbitration process created by the No Surprises Act and replace it with payments based on median in-network rates. The bill, called the Lower Premiums, Faster Payments Act, would change how disputes between health insurers and out-of-network providers are resolved.
Pallone, who helped author the No Surprises Act, said the law has been an "overwhelming success" in protecting patients from surprise bills. The arbitration process itself, however, has been criticized as costly and problem-plagued. The new proposal would dismantle that system entirely.
Reaction to the bill has split along familiar lines. Academics and consumer advocates praised the measure, while provider groups condemned it. The article notes that provider groups have already come out swinging against the proposal, describing arbitration as having been lucrative for them.