A new law in N.J. put an end to surprise medical bills for patients, but doctors win in most cases, study says
Updated Jan 10, 2021;
A landmark state law aimed at preventing thousands of patients from receiving surprise medical bills from out-of-network doctors and hospitals is a consumer success but does not save insurance companies as much money as they had hoped, according to a new study.
The 2018 law created an arbitration system for medical providers and insurance carriers fighting over who should pay for out-of-network treatment. An independent arbitrator may consider the work of the physician, the seriousness of the procedure and other factors, but ultimately must choose between either the bill from the medical provider or the amount the insurance carrier is offering to pay.