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business Monday 31 January 2022
New federal law targets medical bill surprises

By Tom Murphy care when they need it.
Associated Press Regulations behind the
(AP) - Patients worried new law note that insurers
about getting hit with an cannot deny a claim solely
unexpected bill after emer- based on a doctor’s diag-
gency care gained a layer nosis. They also must con-
of protection this month sider the symptoms patients
from a new federal law. had when they arrived.
The No Surprises Act pre- That means insurers should
vents doctors or hospitals not deny a claim to a pa-
in many situations from bill- tient who rushed to the ER
ing insured patients higher thinking she was having a
rates because the care heart attack but ultimately
providers are not in their in- was diagnosed with heart
surer’s coverage network. burn.
The law won’t eliminate Can this protection be
billing surprises. But it is ex- waived?
pected to ease concerns, In some cases that aren’t
especially in emergencies emergencies, a doctor
where patients may not outside the network may
have time to choose an ask a patient to waive their
in-network doctor. A closer protections from the law.
look at the law: A chief nursing officer walks down a hallway in the recently reopened emergency room at a In exchange, they will pro-
How are patients protect- hospital in Houma, La., on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. Patients worried about getting smacked with an vide an estimate of what
ed? unexpected bill after emergency care gained a layer of protection in January 2022 from a new the care will cost.
Insurers form networks of federal law.(AP Photo/John Locher, File) Those estimates also are
doctors and hospitals that available to uninsured pa-
agree to provide care for could receive the entire bill by a provider outside their up protection against in- tients. Patients have to sign
a discounted rate negoti- if the insurer doesn’t cover network. That can include surer claim rejections for this waiver before the care.
ated with the insurer. anything outside its net- radiology, lab work or care emergency visits. If the final bill comes in at
Providers outside those net- work. from an anesthesiologist. Emergency departments least $400 higher than the
works often bill patients for The new law ends these bill- The law also protects are expensive places to estimate, patients have a
the difference between ing surprises for most emer- against out-of-network bills seek care, and insurers roughly four-month window
what they charged and gency care by essentially for air ambulances, but not have been trying to limit in which they can dispute
what the insurer covered. requiring that patients re- ground ambulances. their use to only life-threat- the amount.
Insurers also may cover less ceive in-network coverage Many states already regu- ening emergencies. If someone declines the
of the remaining bill after with no additional billing late surprise medical bills. They have denied cover- waiver, the doctor may de-
the patient pays a deduct- from the provider. The federal law supple- age if they deem patient cline to treat them.
ible, which is the amount It also offers protection in ments those measures. visits to be not emergen- That could force people to
paid for care before most care that isn’t an emergen- What other protections are cies. Doctors worry this choose between the doc-
coverage starts. cy when people are treat- provided? practice will deter patients tor or hospital when only
In some cases, patients ed at in-network hospitals The No Surprises Act beefs from seeking life-saving one is in the network.q

Spending, crime top lawmakers’ agendas for 2022 session

By Mohamed Ibrahim announced his bid for gov- Meanwhile, Senate Re-
Associated Press ernor. Both Republican publicans want to give
(AP) — In a year where and Democratic lawmak- that money back to Min-
every state legislative seat ers have pointed to issues nesotans in the form of
and the governor’s office is like crime as a major issue permanent tax cuts. Miller
up for grabs in November’s this session, and it will likely on Wednesday highlighted
election, the state’s enor- carry over as a campaign their effort to eliminate tax-
mous $7.7 billion surplus and issue during midterm elec- es on Social Security ben-
how to spend it looms over tions this fall. efits and signaled a poten-
Minnesota legislative lead- Here’s what to expect as tial push for other ongoing
ers and Democratic Gov. lawmakers convene on tax relief.
Tim Walz ahead of the start Monday for the 2022 ses- The governor also pro-
of the legislative session on sion: posed a record $2.7 billion
Monday. Walz’s proposed supple- “local jobs and projects”
House Speaker Melissa Hort- mental budget includes a bonding package — much Gov. Tim Walz, right, and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan tour a con-
man and Majority Leader spending plan focused on larger than the $1.9 billion struction project at the University of Minnesota where they an-
nounced their $2.7 billion plan to bolster infrastructure across
Ryan Winkler return to lead children and families that package passed in 2020 Minnesota, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Minneapolis. (Glen Stub-
the Democratic House makes up more than $5 bil- that is the current largest be/Star Tribune via AP)
while the GOP-controlled lion over three years and in the state’s history. Bond-
Senate sees a change in another proposal as part ing bills require a three-fifths desk to be signed. unemployment insurance
leadership in Republican of an economic opportu- majority to pass, making There seems to be com- tax increase — an issue Re-
Sen. Jeremy Miller, of Wino- nity plan that would send the minority party in each mon ground, however, in publicans have called a
na, who took over as ma- checks of $175 or $350 to chamber essential to any repaying the state’s debt top priority and that Walz
jority leader after Sen. Paul more than 2.7 million Min- package’s chances of to the federal government included in his budget
Gazelka, of East Gull Lake, nesota households. making it to the governor’s for jobless aid to prevent an plan.q