{"id":407,"date":"2021-11-22T21:30:51","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T22:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/?p=407"},"modified":"2022-12-26T15:05:55","modified_gmt":"2022-12-26T15:05:55","slug":"its-time-to-end-surprise-billing-and-unfair-pricing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jaguarviber.com\/index.php\/2021\/11\/22\/its-time-to-end-surprise-billing-and-unfair-pricing\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s Time to End Surprise Billing and Unfair Pricing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Young<\/a><\/p>\n

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It\u2019s a story we hear all too often from our members. You visit an emergency room or need medical\u00a0care\u00a0that involves\u00a0services like\u00a0anesthesia or an x-ray. You pay what you owe for the visit and a few weeks later, a\u00a0bill arrives in the mail\u00a0that\u00a0you weren\u2019t expecting. You open it and find a separate charge from a specialist group for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.\u00a0The\u00a0questions naturally start from there \u2013\u00a0<\/span>What is this?\u00a0Didn\u2019t I pay for this already?\u00a0Am I being charged again?\u00a0Why is this bill so high?<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is surprise billing, and it\u2019s an issue that impacts one in 10 Americans each year. It\u2019s a\u00a0<\/span>serious problem for North Carolina<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to new consumer laws that protect patients from surprise billing, even in-network providers in specialties like anesthesiology, radiology and emergency have been able to charge our members significantly higher than their peers in North Carolina and up to 500% higher than what they charge Medicare patients<\/span>. These services are most often provided when our patients are at their most vulnerable. But there is good news on the horizon: An effort is underway to work with dozens of providers across the state to make health care more affordable for our members. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More consumer protection on the way<\/b><\/h2>\n

New federal legislation\u00a0that will take effect January 1, 2022,\u00a0seeks to stop surprise billing. These laws<\/a><\/span> establish much-needed\u00a0limits\u00a0on pricing,\u00a0protecting consumers by\u00a0ensuring services provided by out-of-network providers are more affordable.\u00a0They also\u00a0create a\u00a0process for insurers and providers to settle differences when\u00a0special exceptions are needed. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Blue Cross\u00a0NC\u00a0is pleased Congress took steps to protect patients from unfair and costly surprise medical bills.\u00a0<\/span>The new laws will undoubtedly improve the problem for our members and keep millions of Americans from getting unexpected bills at unexpected prices after they seek the care they need. <\/span>We\u00a0appreciate the opportunity to take patients out of the middle\u00a0of this issue\u00a0and negotiate directly with the most expensive for-profit providers\u00a0in our network.<\/span>\u00a0We can all\u00a0agree\u00a0that\u00a0charging\u00a0up to\u00a0five times\u00a0more\u00a0for\u00a0some patients\u00a0is simply not fair and not sustainable.\u00a0We\u2019re\u00a0working with these providers to put an end to\u00a0exorbitant charges,\u00a0along with surprise billing, for good.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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More reasonable pricing needed<\/b><\/h2>\n

Recently, we identified 54 of the most expensive health care practices across the state who have benefited from charging inflated pricing under previous rules. Charging some patients up to 500% more than what they charge other patients is the kind of action that leads to unnecessarily high health care costs and higher premiums for everyone. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u00a0have\u00a0asked\u00a0these\u00a0providers\u00a0to\u00a0work with us on\u00a0adjusting\u00a0their pricing to be more in line with their peers. We have requested\u00a0prompt\u00a0responses to ensure they remain in our network\u00a0moving\u00a0forward, and\u00a0look forward to working with them to make health care more affordable for our members.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

R<\/span>egardless of\u00a0<\/span>network status<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>the new law<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>helps<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>protect<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>members\u00a0<\/span>from paying\u00a0<\/span>exorbitant<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>cost<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>w<\/span>hile\u00a0<\/span>ensur<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0appropriate\u00a0<\/span>access<\/span>\u00a0to care<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Which 54 provider practices does this impact?<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n