Businesses, Union Leaders Announce Support of Bill to Rein in Surprise Medical Charges
We released a press release yesterday about a new bill to combat surprise billing. Check it out and let us know if you have a story you’d be willing to tell. You can do so by emailing Jennifer.Lopez@rrpartners.com.
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Las Vegas, NV — In an effort to protect patients from surprise fees charged by out-of-network doctors and hospitals, Health Services Coalition (HSC) announced support of Assembly Bill 382, which seeks to cap surprise medical bills at the average amount that the third party has negotiated with other hospitals. Las Vegas-based HSC fights for affordable healthcare on behalf of more than 340,000 Nevadans from 21 different employers including firefighters, police, construction workers, and hotel workers.
“There are numerous cases when a patient seeking treatment for a trauma injury is transported to a hospital that is not contracted with their insurance plan,” said Stacie Sasso, HSC executive director. “Our members and their families deserve the right to know ahead of time that they won’t potentially face medical bankruptcy because of a surprise bill. The Coalition will continue to ensure our members can access affordable healthcare.”
A recent national survey published in Health Affairs found that 22 percent of patients who used an emergency room ended up with surprise bills. AB 382 was recently introduced in the Nevada Legislature by Assemblywoman Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas.
“It is critical to help protect patients, especially during challenging times when dealing with an emergency,” said Assemblywoman Maggie Carlton.
The Coalition also supports Senate Bill 265, which seeks to control rising prices on life saving diabetes drugs, including Insulin.
The bill, spearheaded by Senator Yvanna Cancela, D-Las Vegas, arose from an event organized by HSC last year, that brought together experts from across the U.S. to meet with Nevada healthcare advocates to address the prescription drug pricing crisis facing our state. In a poll released in 2016 by the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly three out of four Americans say drug costs are unreasonable and we need better public policies to address it.
Health Services Coalition members include: Boyd Gaming Corporation; Caesars Entertainment; Cement Masons and Plasterers Health and Welfare Trust; Clark County Firefighters; Clark County Self-Funded; Construction Industry and Laborer Health and Welfare Trust Fund; Culinary Health Fund; Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 357; Las Vegas Firefighters; Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Employees Health and Welfare Trust; Nevada Housing & Neighborhood Development; North Las Vegas Firefighters Local 1607; NV Energy; Operating Engineers Local 501; Plumbers and Pipefitters Health and Welfare Fund; Teamsters Local 14-Security Fund for Southern Nevada; Teamsters Local 631- Security Fund for Southern Nevada; Teamsters Local 986- Security Fund for Southern Nevada; Tropicana Resort and Casino; and United Food & Commercial Workers International Union Local 771 and Retail Food Employers Benefit Fund.
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