Out-of-Network Emergency-Physician Bills — An Unwelcome Surprise

Patients who seek care at in-network emergency departments may learn later that they owe thousands of dollars for a treating physician who isn't in their plan's network. But states could require hospitals to sell a bundled ED care package including physician services. Although the Affordable Care Act has increased the number of Americans with health insurance, a 2014 survey found that 20% of insured people still have trouble paying medical bills. 1 A major source of financial hardship for patients comes from surprise bills from physicians who are not in their insurance network. Recent media reports have described large and troubling surprise bills from anesthesiologists, radiologists, and surgeons who assisted during routine procedures. 2 Surprise bills from emergency physicians have also been a source of concern and are representative of the wider problem. U.S. hospitals generally contract with physician groups to provide care in . . .