Health Affairs | February 18, 2022
Read the PublicationThe No Surprises Act protects patients from the most pervasive types of surprise out-of-network bills. The law applies when a patient receives emergency care (including by air ambulances), some post-stabilization services after an emergency, and non-emergency services at in-network facilities (unless a patient consents to treatment by an out-of-network provider). Patients that receive these types of care from an out-of-network provider will only be responsible for the same amount of cost sharing that they would have paid if the service had been provided by an in-network provider. Health care providers and facilities are banned from sending balance bills to patients to collect a higher amount.