Health budget addresses out-of-network billing, Medicaid waiver funds
Laura Nahmias
ALBANY— State leaders have reached a deal on the state’s annual health care budget, which includes a potentially far-reaching plan to reform the way insurers and doctors handle out-of-network surprise medical bills, and outlines the methodology the state will use to control some funds it receives as part of an $8 billion Medicaid waiver from the federal government.
The health care budget bill was introduced early Saturday morning, ostensibly the last of the separate budget bills to be finalized.
The surprise medical billing proposal would hold consumers harmless if they receive a costly medical bill after being forced to see a health care provider who isn’t part of their insurance network.
The legislation was the subject of intense negotiations earlier this week, as doctors and insurers fought to tweak language delineating how much insurers are required to pay out of network doctors.
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/03/8542859/health-budget-addresses-out-network-billing-medicaid-waiver-funds