The National Arbitration Forum Blog

A Texas bill intends to resolve the issue of Balance Billing = the practice of billing insured patients for amounts, or balances, not covered by their insurer.

The Star-Telegram reported ('Balance billing' measure moves closer to approval by Legislature, Dianna Hunt, Star-Telegram, 5/30/2009) last weekend that the "Texas Senate approved a bill by Rep. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, on Thursday. The bill would set up a mediation system for patients hit unexpectedly by out-of-network charges for doctors such as radiologists, pathologists, anesthesiologists and emergency room physicians."

If enacted, patients would be able to protest a charge from an out-of-network provider to a state mediator. The provider and the insurance company would split the cost of the mediation; the consumer would not have additional out-of-pocket costs and would not even be required to attend the mediation, according to the article.