The American Medical Association, 50 state medical societies and 46 healthcare organizations urged congressional leaders to support bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening enforcement of the No Surprises Act, according to a letter released May 11.
The legislation — H.R. 4710/S. 2420 — would authorize penalties for parties that fail to comply with statutory payment timelines following final Independent Dispute Resolution determinations. The bill also would give federal regulators explicit authority to enforce IDR decisions.
The organizations said physicians continue to report that health plans improperly bill patients, delay payments beyond the law’s required 30-day timeframe or refuse to pay after physicians prevail in the IDR process. The groups said those practices create financial strain for independent physician practices with limited ability to challenge insurer noncompliance.
The congressional letter follows a separate letter from the AMA and 111 specialty societies and state medical associations to federal officials warning that health plans are undermining the No Surprises Act and urging stronger enforcement and transparency.
The legislation, titled the No Surprises Act Enforcement Act, is intended to reinforce the law’s requirement that IDR determinations “shall be binding upon the parties involved,” the organizations said.
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