When you show up for a procedure at an in-network medical facility or hospital, you expect the staff to be in-network too.
Sometimes that is not the case, and we often don't find out until we get a surprise bill in the mail.
Proposed legislation would change the rules about your right to dispute surprise medical bills.
Senate Bill 1441 would allow you to file a formal dispute with the Arizona Department of Insurance and trigger mandatory arbitration between your provider and your insurer in order to settle the bill.
To qualify, the surprise medical bill would have to have been generated in an in-network facility, by an out-of-network provider and would need to be at least $1000.
The law would also require that a settlement conference occur before official arbitration proceedings in an attempt to resolve the issue.
During the proceeding, each party would be allowed to provide documentation of how much the bill should be.
Ultimately, the arbitrator is tasked with deciding how much the provider should be entitled to. Disputes over the decision would be allowed to be appealed in court.
The bill is currently being debated in the Senate.
What do you think? Let your state Senators and Representatives know.
Need my help?
Contact volunteers with the Assistance League of Phoenix (855) 323-1515 or email Joe@abc15.com
