Some New Jersey providers raised concerns about a state proposal to address instances of surprise medical billing, NJ Spotlight reports.
Here are four things to know about the proposal.
1. On Monday, New Jersey's Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee held a nearly four-hour meeting on a bill addressing surprise billing. It is the second of three planned hearings on the proposal.
2. Under the bill, physicians and health insurers would need to provide greater transparency to help patients better understand coverage policies. The proposal only concerns medical bills for emergency or inadvertent situations, NJ Spotlight reports.
3. The proposal also calls for arbitration for the out-of-network charges. The arbitration would be overseen by a third party, which would determine the ultimate charge.
4. Some New Jersey physicians said an arbitration process, as written in the bill, would give insurance companies an advantage in contract negotiations. Some physicians also argued it could lead to providers leaving the state, according to the report.