State Reps. Roger Hauck (R-Mt. Pleasant) and Frank Liberati (D-Allen Park) today delivered testimony on bipartisan legislation they sponsored to protect Michigan residents from the practice of surprise medical billing.

Surprise medical bills typically stem from a disagreement between a patient’s insurer and an out-of-network medical provider leaving the patient stuck with the bill. Patients often either do not have the choice or are not given adequate notice that the medical service is not in-network.

“To put it simply, our plan takes the patient out of the middle and gives them the tools they need to make an informed decision about their healthcare,” Hauck said. “We’ve spent a great deal of time researching what other states have done to stop surprise billing. What makes our plan unique is that it actually protects self-funded plans that are regulated by the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Because we are regulating providers, not insurance in the market place.’

The bipartisan plan requires medical providers to give notice if their service will result in out-of-pocket costs to a patient along with a written estimate of those costs.

In emergency situations, where consent cannot be given, the patient will still be protected from surprise fees.

“Patients have health insurance specifically to protect themselves from high medical costs,” said Liberati. “If they pay their premiums and use in-network providers, they rightfully expect their medical expenses to be covered after copayments and deductibles. Even with more people having health care coverage than ever before, many are still facing financial hardship from medical expenses due to surprise billing.”

House Bills 4459 and 4460 remain under consideration by the House Health Policy Committee.

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