Let's Make Speaking Out on Surprise Billing a Priority

Balance billing, more commonly known as “surprise billing,” has garnered national attention and Congress is preparing to take action. The issue of surprise medical billing may arise when a patient goes to an in-network facility to receive care, such as emergency care, surgery, or childbirth, and receives care from out-of-network physicians. Finding a solution to surprise billing is critical, and ACOG is hard at work to ensure that the solution protects our practices and our patients. Our members of Congress need to hear from us – the physicians who would be impacted.

Billing disputes can impact the patient-physician relationship, as many patients look to you to answer their billing questions. Any solution must shield patients from out-of-network payment disputes between physicians and insurers. Patients are not always able to choose an in-network provider and shouldn’t be financially punished for circumstances beyond their control. It is also critical that legislation to address surprise billing ensure that physicians are appropriately compensated for the quality care they provide. Some congressional proposals would jeopardize physician reimbursement and access to care. I was fortunate to be on Capitol Hill earlier this year with the “Group of 6*” to advocate for legislation to address this issue.ACOG supports an independent dispute resolution process—like the one used in New York state—that protects patients and preserves the financial stability of physician practices.

This August Recess, ACOG is partnering with the physician community to make protecting our patients and our members from surprise medical bills a priority. In a joint letter to the US Congress signed by 57 medical specialty societies and nearly every state medical association, we let legislators know where we stand on this issue. But we need your help!

As a physician, your voice is powerful in impacting new legislation. Send a message to your members of Congress and tell them to support surprise billing legislation that relies on the proven dispute resolution process. Then, connect with them in person. Most members of Congress share their town hall and constituent engagement schedules on their websites. Find out when they’ll be in your neighborhood, consider getting a few of your colleagues together, and let them know that addressing surprise medical bills is a priority for ob-gyns.

Never advocated before? It’s easier than you may think. Here’s a simple message you can send to your representatives:

I’m an ob-gyn. Please work in Congress to protect my patients from surprise medical bills and ensure a solution that is fair for everyone and that enables me to continue to provide high-quality health care to the women of (YOUR STATE), similar to the proven model in New York state. When you get back to Washington, D.C., reach out to my specialty society, ACOG, to keep this conversation going.

Whether the issue is surprise medical billing, maternal mortality, or Violence Against Women Act reauthorization, ACOG will continue to advocate on behalf of you, our specialty, and our patients year-round. You can always join our efforts by visiting our ACOG Action web page, and stay up to date with breaking advocacy news by following @ACOGAction on Twitter.

Let’s do this!

* The Group of 6, representing America’s frontline physicians, is comprised of ACOG, The American Academy of Family Physicians, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American College of Physicians, The American Osteopathic Association, and the American Psychiatric Association.