LETTER: To end surprise medical bills use dispute resolution process

To Ozaukee Press:

I truly believe that despite all of the partisan rhetoric on cable TV, our federal elected officials can come together and do what’s right for their constituents when it comes to ending surprise medical bills.

Ending surprise medical bills was a top priority for Congress in 2019, but several of the proposals that gained traction required providers to accept predetermined rates from insurance companies. I’m concerned to think that at a time when we should be taking control away from the insurance companies we might actually be making the problem worse.

Surprise medical bills need to stop. But we need to stop them in a way that benefits the patient, which I believe is done by utilizing an independent dispute resolution process.

An independent dispute resolution (IDR) process removes patients from billing disputes and ensures access to their doctor. In states that implemented IDR already, it has resulted in thousands of reductions in surprise medical bills and savings of more than $400 million to consumers.

This is a perfect opportunity for Congress to show the American people that it’s working together by making sure that patients are no longer blindsided by surprise medical bills.

Linda Herodes
Germantown