Congress Passes Ban On Surprise Billing

On December 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law an omnibus spending bill that included key provisions that, for the first time, provide national protections from surprise billing. Starting in 2022, patients will no longer be responsible for surprise out-of-network bills, with those costs distributed between insurers and providers. This brief will provide a key summary of the provisions in the bill, the potential impact of the bill, and other considerations.