When you get emergency care or are treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network health care facility, such as a hospital, you are protected from “surprise billing” or “balance billing.”
When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan's network.
"Out-of-network" describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called "balance billing." This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.
"Surprise billing" is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care – such as when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.
Emergency services
If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can't be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.
Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center
When you receive services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers at that facility may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.
If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections.
You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.
If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact the Department of Health and Human Services, who will work with the Departments of Treasury and Labor and the Office of Personnel Management, by calling 1-800-985-3059.
Visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises for more information about your rights under federal law.
Certain states have enacted laws against “balance billing,” also known as “surprise billing”, and some of these laws include protections regarding non-emergency services by out-of-network professionals at in-network facilities. While the laws are changing regularly at the state level, some of the states where PAM Health does business are identified below. For information regarding these protections in all states, as well as other types of balance billing protections, visit State Balance-Billing Protections | Commonwealth Fund
Individuals covered under certain health benefit plans issued or delivered in Arizona are entitled to protections under Arizona law against balance billing by out-of-network professionals. If you believe you have been wrongly billed, you can visit https://difi.az.gov/soonbdr to determine whether your health care bill qualifies as a balance bill that is eligible for the dispute resolution process.
Individuals covered under certain insurance plans issued or delivered in Colorado are entitled to protections under Colorado law from balance billing by out-of-network professionals.
Individuals covered under certain insurance plans issued or delivered in Delaware are entitled to protections under Delaware law from balance by billing out-of-network professionals.
Individuals covered under certain insurance plans issued or delivered in Florida are entitled to protections under Florida law from balance billing by out-of-network professionals.
Individuals covered under certain insurance plans issued or delivered in Indiana are entitled to protections under Indiana law from balance billing by out-of-network professionals.
Individuals covered under certain insurance plans issued or delivered in Massachusetts are entitled to protections under Massachusetts law from balance billing by out-of-network professionals.
Individuals covered under certain insurance plans issued or delivered in Missouri are entitled to protections under Missouri law from balance billing by out-of-network professionals.
Individuals covered under certain insurance plans issued or delivered in Nevada are entitled to protections under Nevada law from balance billing by out-of-network professionals
Individuals covered under certain insurance plans issued or delivered in North Carolina are entitled to protections under North Carolina law from balance billing by out-of-network professionals.
Individuals covered under certain state-regulated insurance plans are entitled to protections under Ohio law from balance billing by out-of-network professionals.
Individuals covered under certain insurance plans issued or delivered in Pennsylvania are entitled to protections under Pennsylvania law from balance billing by out-of-network professionals.
Individuals covered under certain state-regulated insurance plans and people with coverage through the state employee or teacher retirement systems are entitled to protections under Texas law from balance billing by out-of-network professionals.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.