Congress tried to stop surprise medical bills. It created another problem.

I SWEAR I READ THIS TWICE TO BE SURE AND LIKE WE THOUGHT THE NO SURPRISES ACT WAS A WIN FOR US BUT APPARENTLY IT CREATED THIS CRAZY ARBITRATION INDUSTRY WHICH IS WILD BECAUSE NOW MIDDLEMEN AND PROVIDERS ARE EXPLOITING A LOOPHOLE TO CHARGE WAY MORE THAN NORMAL, SO NOW A ROUTINE LAB TEST THAT SHOULD COST LIKE TEN BUCKS IS HITTING INSURERS FOR HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS! AND THE THING IS, THIS MONEY COMES FROM EMPLOYER HEALTH PLANS SO WE ARE ALL PAYING FOR IT WITH HIGHER PREMIUMS! LIKE ONE PLASTIC SURGEON GOT AWARDED FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A PROCEDURE THEY USUALLY GET SIX THOUSAND FOR, WHICH IS INSANE! CONGRESS TRIED TO FIX SURPRISE BILLS BUT NOW WE MIGHT JUST BE PAYING THROUGH REDUCED BENEFITS INSTEAD. ANYWAY DO YOU WANT ANOTHER DRINK?

HONESTLY I CANNOT DEAL WITH THIS ONE BUT DID YOU HEAR THAT CONGRESS LITERALLY ACCIDENTALLY MADE A LOOPHOLE THAT IS MAKING HEALTHCARE WAY MORE EXPENSIVE? APPARENTLY SOME MIDDLEMEN ARE USING THIS ARBITRATION SYSTEM FROM THE NO SURPRISES ACT TO WIN MASSIVE PAYMENTS FROM INSURERS, WHICH IS TOTALLY BACKFIRING BECAUSE EMPLOYERS END UP FOOTING THE BILL THROUGH HIGHER PREMIUMS! CBS NEWS FOUND THAT PROVIDERS ARE GETTING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR TINY LAB TESTS AND THAT IS JUST GIVING US LESS COVERAGE IN THE LONG RUN! IT IS LIKE THEY FIXED THE SURPRISE BILL BUT REPLACED IT WITH A SYSTEM WHERE PROVIDERS JUST WIN MORE MONEY THAN THEY USED TO! IT IS A TOTAL DISASTER AND I AM STRESSED ABOUT MY NEXT MEDICAL BILL. OK SOMEBODY ELSE TALK, MY THROAT HURTS.

A 2020 law meant to stop surprise medical bills has created a loophole where healthcare providers and middlemen use an arbitration system to charge insurers inflated prices, ultimately raising premiums.

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