Insurance regulators in Texas are facing a backlog of mediation requests from residents concerned with surprise medical bills, according to The Texas Tribune.
Three things to know:
1. The Texas Department of Insurance mediation program aims to help patients with surprise medical bills by working with the health insurance company and the healthcare provider to reach an agreement on the amount charged by the provider, the amount paid by the insurer to the provider, and the amount paid by the patient.
2. Thanks to increased media coverage and updated mediation regulation in the state for surprise medical bills, thousands of Texas residents are seeking assistance from the Texas Department of Insurance, according to The Texas Tribune.
3. The influx has created a massive backlog. The department received 4,519 requests in 2018, and expect 8,000 during the current fiscal year. That's compared to 43 requests in 2013 and 600 in 2014, according to the report.
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