Saturday, December 6, 2008

Balancing Billing & Health CarING


TRI-PAC Health and Wellness Advocacy known for its health consumer advocacy is pleased to announce an important legislative victory for all Californians.

A California Judge upheld state recently enacted rules banning the practice of balance billing for emergency medical care.
Rules forbid providers from balance billing patients by making it an unfair billing practice; allowing State Department of Managed Care to pursue enforcement action against providers.

Both the CMA, the California Hospital Association and the Hospital Association of Southern California argued that the California Department of Managed Care, issuer of the ruling, exceeded its authority to issue and enforce the regulations.

The editorial board of Sacramento Bee also says Californians won a major health care victory on Wednesday. "Now, patients who end up in an emergency room cannot be billed for services that are covered by their health insurance -- care they already paid for through insurance premiums, deductibles and co-pays.”

While the CMA, supported by the hospitals, is trying to appeal the ruling we are appealing to the CMA and the hospitals to refrain from their unfair medical billing practices effective immediately.

We advocate; Hospitals, Physicians, and Other Provider Groups Obfuscate, Litigate, and Castigate; You decide!

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