American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
UPDATE: President Joe Biden officially signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law on the afternoon of March 11, 2021.
Tucked into the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, a massive spending bill passed in December 2020, was the “No Surprises Act.” This legislation resolves bi-partisan concern for patients who receive surprise billing for out-of-network medical services.
Effective January 1, 2022, it will be illegal for providers to bill patients above their in-network cost-sharing levels, with some exceptions. This formalizes at a national level the efforts that have been enacted in individual states to eliminate surprise medical bills and protect millions of people with self-funded coverage.
The American Hospital Association has stated that the health system field “strongly supports protecting patients from surprise medical bills,” and encourages members to review the plan closely. Medical providers, hospitals, nursing homes, and others in the field have until the end of 2021 to analyze how this legislation will affect the way they bill patients for services provided. Key takeaways from the “No Surprises Act” include:
Both providers and health insurance plans must now assist patients in accessing health care cost information, grant access to a price comparison tool, include additional information on member identification cards, and provide advance notice regarding participation in applicable health plans.
These changes may require providers to review organizational policies, update compliance program testing, and analyze their operations to determine the financial impact of these changes. Our team is here to assist clients in analyzing the impact of these changes and preparing for the new billing protocols in 2022.
UPDATE: President Joe Biden officially signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law on the afternoon of March 11, 2021.
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