Getting a surprise bill in the mail from an out-of-network medical provider could be a thing of the past with a new law that took effect this year. Senator Sherrod Brown’s “No Surprises Act” took effect on January 1st. The new law bans most forms of surprise billing from emergency situations and when a person seeks care from an in-network facility, but unknowingly gets care from an out-of-network provider. A report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that one and five American patients have gotten a surprise bill following an elective surgery or after giving birth at an in-network facility.
“It simply says insurance company and provider you work this out, don’t come after the patient for the extra money,” says Brown. “Nobody knows this is coming and nobody knows this law is helping them. But those who have felt the burden of this and the brunt of this, assure them it will not happen again and for others, it shouldn’t happen.”
Brown says if there is an insurance company that has found a way around this law, to contact his office at 1-888-896-OHIO (6446) and they will try and help you out.
