Surprise Billing Legislation Interim Final Rule: MSSNY Calls for Prioritizing Patient Care Over Insurance Profits

For Immediate Release
October 1, 2021 

Surprise Billing Legislation Interim Final Rule: MSSNY Calls for Prioritizing Patient Care Over Insurance Profits 

Statement Attributable to:
Joseph R. Sellers, MD, FAAP, FACP
President, Medical Society of the State of New York 

“While MSSNY is continuing to review the HHS interim final rule implementing aspects of the federal No Surprises Act, we are concerned by what appears to be a gross deviation from what was enacted by Congress last year.  In implementing the Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process for resolving patient surprise medical bills – a process that New York physicians has strongly supported for many years – HHS has clearly sought to put its thumb on the scale in favor of multi-billion-dollar insurance companies.

The health of our patients is our priority. MSSNY is very concerned that if these rules are implemented as proposed by HHS, it could have significant adverse consequences for timely specialty care provided at hospital emergency departments–which will reduce health care options for our patients. We urge that there be revisions to this rule by HHS to more accurately reflect the balance that was struck to protect patients in the No Surprises Act passed by Congress last December.”

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Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.  

Media Contact:
Roseann Raia | Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Avenue
Westbury, NY 11590

516.488.6100 x302 | [email protected]