Judge upholds ban on medical 'balanced billing' Jan 2, 2009
The court only upheld the DMHC s right to define balance billing as an unfair billing practice ... All along, the governor and his administration s goal has been to protect consumers from unfair and illegal balance billing, DMHC director Cindy Ehnes said in a prepared statement. (East Bay Business Times, CA)
Editorial: New rule, ruling: A victory for patients Dec 6, 2008
Too often in these cases, when doctors and insurers don't agree on a payment, patients have ended up getting billed for the difference (called "balance billing"). The reality is that if there's a difference between what the doctor charges and what the insurer pays, one of two things is happening. (Sacramento Bee -- Opinion)
Deputy named for managed care department Dec 3, 2008
Martin previously served as deputy director of the agency s Financial Solvency Standards Board, where he led efforts to develop regulations to ban balance billing of health care consumers when plans fail to pay the full tab for care. He headed the Office of Provider Oversight, which recovered more than $10 million in payments from health plans to providers since it was established in 2004. (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)
Callaway lowers forecast; shares drop 20% Oct 16, 2008
The rules were enacted by the Department of Managed Health Care after several years of debate over so-called balance billing. The practice most often occurs when an emergency room doctor isn't part of a patient's insurance network of providers and bills the patient for whatever amount the insurer refused to pay. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Business)
More local-authored bills signed into law Oct 3, 2008
The practice, called balance billing, sends bills to patients covered by insurance. "It is simply unfair for any patient to receive an excessive and surprise medical bill," Yee said. (Palo Alto Online, CA)
Health care dominated Legislature's final day Sep 8, 2008
Another bill that made it to Schwarzenegger, Senate Bill 981 by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, limits "balance billing" of patients by medical-care providers for costs not covered by insurers. It also provides emergency room doctors with higher fixed payments for their services and creates an arbitration system for disputed bills. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Huge Medical Bills You Shouldn't Pay Aug 30, 2008
"There's no explanation for some of them except purposeful balance billing or overcharging," Blumenthal said. "If you don't fight, you are going to lose," Burdick said. (CBS News)
This is one health-related bill that lawmakers should reject Aug 24, 2008
Too often, patients wrongly end up getting billed for the difference (a practice called "balance billing") -- even though they've already paid their insurance premiums, deductibles and co-pays. That's why we support a new regulation championed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Department of Managed Health Care that would ban the practice of balance billing for ER care ... Balance billing results from one of two things:* The insurer is failing to pay the "reasonable and customary" value of... (Fresno Bee -- Opinion)
California sues over practice of 'balance billing' Jul 2, 2008
com: California: California sues over practice of 'balance billing ... The practice - known as "balance billing - is becoming increasingly common in California. The Department of Managed Health Care has banned balance billing, but regulations aren't expected to take effect until the fall, at the earliest.That agency's director, Cindy Ehnes, said Prime Healthcare Services Inc. is "the largest example of this egregious practice we've seen to date, and it must be stopped. (Fresno Bee -- State)
Sick system Jun 9, 2008
Murkowski said some doctors are pushing what they call a "balance billing" approach -- allowing patients who want to, and can afford to, to pay whatever balance is left over after Medicare reimburses the physician. That is currently not allowed. (Anchorage Daily News)
Health care billing fight is looming May 17, 2008
The proposal, by the Department of Managed Health Care, is the agency's third attempt in two years to outlaw so-called balance billing, which turns patients into pawns in payment disputes ... Cindy Ehnes, director of the managed care agency, said Prime's widespread balance billing put a face on a practice that receives little public attention despite being controversial ... Balance billing surfaces most often when emergency room patients receive care outside of their insurance company's network... (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Business)
Alvarado Hospital loses dispute with Blue Shield May 17, 2008
But some physicians and hospitals say so-called balance billing is their only leverage when insurers refuse to pay a fair amount for services. When: 10 a.m. Monday. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Business)
Follow the Castonguay model Feb 21, 2008
One of the first effects of the passage of the Canada Health Act in 1984 was the outlawing of users fees, a practice typically known as extra billing or balance billing. This was heralded as a great equalizer in access to health services. (National Post)
Dispute over who pays for medical services Nov 19, 2007
The practice is known as balance billing ... And it's not just emergency room doctors who are balance billing ... Kathy Graham - a spokeswoman for Sutter Health, which manages Marin General and Novato Community hospitals - declined to supply any information on whether the two local hospitals are balance billing. (Marin Independent-Journal)
