(biliing systems from govt ocntractrros hve not been legally compliant for years as no audit controls...)Surprise Billing Legislation May Go Federal

Surprise Billing Legislation May Go Federal: The fight against surprise medical billing may get a leg up from the federal government if President Trump gets his way. Last week, the President and other White House officials voiced support for a congressional ban on surprise medical bills by barring hospital contracts with physicians who aren't in the same network as the rest of the hospital, Modern Healthcare reports. The fight for more patient protection from surprise or balance billing has been raging in Texas for years, as subsequent bills have added mediation to the process, with the latest version of a bill including an arbitration piece that will decide who pays what when a surprise bill is more than $500. Providers and insurers have been lobbying heavily around this issue at the state and national level, pushing to make sure they get fair treatment when these bills are decided. The portion of the Texas bill that calls for a arbitration with decision-making power rather than mediation by the Texas Department of Insurance