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Surprise Medical Bills: Balance-Billing & Other Charges Leave Patients With Big Debts

Wonderlane; Flickr

In New Hampshire, visitors to some emergency rooms have received shockingly high bills after treatment, often involving charges for out-of-network doctors, who provided care at hospitals that were part of their insurance plans.  Wednesday morning at 9, The Exchange takes a closer look at this "balance-billing." 

GUESTS:

  • Mark Hall - Nonresident Senior Fellow for Economic Studies at the Center for Health Policy at the Brookings Institute. Read Mark's research below. 
  • Josh Kattef - New Hampshire resident who incurred high medical bills as a result of balance billing, and participated in astudy on balance billing in New Hampshire
  • Representative David Luneau - Legislator from Merrimack who is sponsoringHB-1809, which would prohibit balance billing under the managed care law. 
  • Casey McDermott - Reporter for NHPR. Read Casey's coverage of balance billing in New Hampshire below. 

Related Reading:

  From the Brookings Institute: 

"Solving surprise medical bills."  

"A better approach to regulating provider network adequacy.

"Receive a surprise medical bill? Here are three federal actions that may address surprise bills.

From Casey McDermott at NHPR:

"How 'Balance Billing' Can Blindside Patients With Unexpected Medical Debt."

"Company Known For Surprise E.R. Bills Expands in N.H.'s Healthcare Market."

National Reporting:

"The Company Behind Many Surprise Emergency Room Bills," from the New York Times. 

"A $17,850 urine test: Industry boom amid opioid epidemic," from CNN. 

"After Surgery, Surprise $117,000 Medical Bill From Doctor He Didn't Know," from the New York Times. 

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