Industry
HaloMD Claims No Surprises Act Saved $1 Billion on Emergency Spending
HaloMD, a medical billing firm, released a study claiming the No Surprises Act has reduced out-of-network emergency medical spending by at least $1 billion. Independent researchers questioned the firm's methodology. The No Surprises Act, which took effect in 2022, prohibits surprise billing for emergency services and certain out-of-network care in commercial insurance and self-funded plans. The law does not apply to Medicaid managed care, where state laws and contract provisions govern out-of-network emergency billing and member cost-sharing protections.
Why it mattersThis debate over No Surprises Act impact has no direct bearing on Medicaid managed care operations, which are excluded from the federal law's scope.