From a patient perspective a surprise bill is infuriating. I guess enough California patients got them to loudly complain. It should be transparent to patients who is in network. It gives all healthcare providers a black eye when people do this.
I agree surprise billing is a problem however it just represents the larger problem of payer inadequate payments to providers. What infuriates me is that payers write the policies that contributes to the problem then lobby to pass law that cap reimbursement. Payers offer inadequate contracts to providers or deny providers in network all together, then they raise OON deductibles/copays instead of premiums, and pt get large OON provider bills subject to OON deductibles.
Also, how hypocritical is it that this bill requires price transparency for OON providers to opt-out of the law. But still demands IN providers keep prices hidden. By doing so, this law basically eliminates the competitive marketplace for providers but maintains the competitive marketplace for payers.
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