Judge Backs Texas Providers in Surprise Billing Suit

Texas providers have notched their first win in the legal battle over the No Surprises Act (NSA), the federal law that bans surprise billing — though the Biden administration can appeal the decision. In a lawsuit brought by the Texas Medical Association (TMA), Judge Jeremy Kernodle of the federal Eastern District of Texas on Wednesday struck down regulations issued by the Biden administration that providers allege favor insurers at their expense in balance-billing scenarios.

The NSA requires payers and providers to work out the balance billing disputes between themselves. If that fails, an HHS-approved independent arbitrator will decide between two payment amounts: one submitted by the provider and one by the insurer. Arbitrators then pick between one of the two proffered amounts using criteria designed by the Biden administration.

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Peter Johnson

Peter Johnson

Peter has worked as a journalist since 2011 and has covered health care since 2020. At AIS Health, Peter covers trends in finance, business and policy that affect the health insurance and pharma sectors. For Health Plan Weekly, he covers all aspects of the U.S. health insurance sector, including employer-sponsored insurance, Medicaid managed care, Medicare Advantage and the Affordable Care Act individual marketplaces. In Radar on Drug Benefits, Peter covers the operations of (and conflicts between) pharmacy benefit managers and pharmaceutical manufacturers, with a particular focus on pricing dynamics and market access. Before joining AIS Health, Peter covered transportation, public safety and local government for various outlets in Seattle, his hometown and current place of residence. He graduated with a B.A. from Colby College.

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