End surprise medical bills

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people who have health insurance are fortunate. However, the chances of becoming very ill and needing to visit a hospital or other urgent care facility are greater now, especially for those over age 60. This is the worse possible time to get a surprise medical bill from an “out of network” provider. This can occur even when a patient goes to an in-network facility. Surprise medical bills can also happen when getting lab work or a diagnostic test. Typical bills range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. A 2018 study found that 1 in 3 Pennsylvania adults received a surprise medical bill in the previous year (Pennsylvania Health Access Network). Most don’t know where to turn for help.

While current Pennsylvania law does not adequately protect patients from such bills, there is good news: House Bill 1862, the Surprise Balance Billing Protection Act, represents the strongest possible protection for consumers against surprise bills. And importantly, it would establish a fair and equitable process for paying providers for their services, while not increasing the costs of a patient’s health plan.

HB 1862 has broad bi-partisan support, but it currently languishes on the General Assembly floor, while legislators’ attention is focused on the economic impact of the pandemic. It should not be difficult to pass this bill without amendment, and our lawmakers need to be reminded by us, their constituents, that we want it passed now. Please call Dan Moul at once to urge him to push for immediate action on this important legislation. (He has indicated his support.) Contact numbers for Moul are (717) 334-3010 (Gettysburg office) and (717) 783-5217 (Harrisburg). Or call your legislator if it is someone else. Find other legislators’ phone numbers at www.legis.state.pa.us.

Jeanne Duffy is chair of the Gettysburg DFA Healthcare Task Force.