News & Happenings

Legislative Update – October 2019

Surprise Billing (HB 4459 and 4460) received  a hearing in the House Heath Policy Committee.  MAHU testified in support of the bills as amended.  HB 4559 protects patients from surprise medical bills by requiring an out of network provider to accept the greater of the plan’s average payment for that service for a contracted provider OR 150% of the Medicare rate for that service.

https://mirsnews.com/bills/details/39229.  HB 4460 requires non-participating providers to provide written disclosure of estimated cost and participation status when there is time for advance notice.  This allows the patient to be able to make an informed choice.  https://mirsnews.com/bills/details/39230    There were many interested parties there to testify.  The main opposition is MSMS (Michigan State Medical Society) who believes network standards could be diminished if this passes and that the reimbursement proposed is not sufficient.  We expect the bill to be voted on in committee shortly.