ACCESS TO CARE COALITION AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE VOICE OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED OUT-OF-NETWORK BILL A-1952/S-1285 AND OFFER SUPPORT OF BILL A-4228
Members of the Access to Care Coalition and the Legislature held a news conference today at the State House in Trenton on December 5, 2016 to voice opposition to the Out-of-Network Bill A-1952/S-1285 and support for Bill A-4228/S2674.The group unanimously supports bill A-4228, which requires increased notice by physicians, hospitals and insurance companies to consumers about healthcare costs.
“We want to make sure there is more transparency from health insurers, so that consumers are not hit with surprise bills for out-of-network services,” said Larry Downs, CEO, Medical Society of New Jersey. “That’s why we support Bill -4228 and oppose Bill A-1952/S-1285.”
The Access to Care Coalition, comprised of twenty groups representing more than 10,000 physicians and other providers, came together to address inconsistencies within New Jersey consumers’ health plan coverage; to call for more transparency from health insurers and to address the issue of surprise bills that can accompany out-of-network healthcare services.
“Many patients think if they have an 80/20 health insurance, the insurance company will pay 80 percent of the bill, but that is not always the case,” said Dr. Rajnik W Raab, a neurosurgeon. “What often happens is that insurance companies will pay only eighty percent of the Medicare reimbursement rate, leaving patients responsible for paying much more than they expected.”
Several other physicians spoke of the difficulties they and their patients face on a regular basis in terms of out-of-network, surprise bills, including Dr. Joseph Costabile (surgery), Dr. Nicole Saphier (radiology), Dr. Mark Rosenberg (emergency), and Dr. David Dupree (surgery).