Surgeons, patients, and policymakers are concerned about the impact that unanticipated medical bills have on patients and the patient-physician relationship. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) believes a holistic approach consisting of coordinated efforts by health insurance plans, hospitals, physicians, and patients will be required to remedy this complex issue.
As Congress develops legislation to address this issue, solutions should address network adequacy, level the playing field between providers and insurers, increase transparency of insurance plans, keep patients out of the middle, and provide for an alternative dispute resolution in certain cases. The ACS remains strongly engaged with key Congressional committees as they continue to look for solutions on the issue of unanticipated medical billing.
Unanticipated Medical Billing Overview
Previous Congressional Efforts