New Jersey bill would shield patients from 'surprise' costs

Patients would be shielded from “surprise” medical costs for out-of-network health care treatment under a bill that advanced from an Assembly committee Thursday.

The Appropriations Committee voted 8-0 to forward the bill to the Assembly, with eight Democrats voting yes and the panel’s three Republicans abstaining. The measure, co-sponsored by Assemblyman Gary Schaer, D-Passaic, would require a health care facility to disclose to a consumer whether the facility is in or out of that person’s covered health benefits plan.

Doctors likewise would be required to inform patients which health care plans the physician participates.

The bill also provides that unless the consumer specifically selects an out-of-network doctor to provide services, that person will not incur any out-of-pocket expenses beyond what they normally would have paid under their in-network health benefits plan.

Read more: http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/local/new-jersey/2016/10/31/bill-surprise-out-network-medical-costs-new-jersey-healthcare/93059336/