Judge deals setback for surprise billing rules
Welcome to Thursday’s Overnight Health Care, where we’re following the latest moves on policy and news affecting your health. A Texas judge gave a win to doctors in a lawsuit in the latest twist in the battle over surprise medical billing. Judge strikes part of surprise billing rules A federal judge in Texas on Wednesday struck down part of the Biden administration’s regulations protecting patients from getting stuck with “surprise” medical bills when they see the doctor, in a win for doctors who sued to block part of the rules. The ruling leaves in place the protections for patients against getting bills for thousands of dollars in situations such as going to the emergency room and later finding out one of the doctors was not covered by their insurance. But it strikes down part of the regulations that govern how much insurers will pay doctors once the patient is taken out of the middle. The ruling, from Judge Jeremy Kernodle, an appointee of fo...