CONSUMER RIGHTS & SURPRISE BILLING
Colorado legislation is protecting patients from surprise out-of-network bills. In 2019, Colorado passed HB19-1174 establishing payment limits for out-of-network health care visits. HHS opened an online portal April 15 for providers and payers to report surprise billing disputes.
Any HCA that bills patients directly take note of the regulations surrounding transparency in billing practices. This law is sure to bring attention to any claims of unexpected billing by clients who pursue use of these new state and federal laws.
Balance billing happens when a health care provider (a doctor, for example) bills a patient after the patient’s health insurance company has paid its share of the bill. The balance bill is for the difference between the provider’s charge and the price the insurance company set, after the patient has paid any copays, coinsurance, or deductibles.
CIVHC has worked closed with payers, providers, and the Division of Insurance (DOI) and will provide a webinar April 21st from 12-1pm MT about:
• Colorado out-of-network legislation rules and regulations
• Updates to Colorado’s law based on the Federal “No Surprises” Act
• Challenges and solutions to using claims data to estimate payment parameters
• Stakeholder engagement process used to refine CO APCD data methodology
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RENEWED
HHS said it was renewing the public health emergency for another 90 days and that it will give states 60 days' notice prior to the termination or expiration of the declaration, according to a statement cited by Reuters.
The PHE declaration was set to expire April 16, but its renewal was widely expected since the Biden administration had not warned states it would lapse. The renewal extends the PHE's deadline to July 15, during which state agencies are required to continue health care coverage for all medical assistance programs, even if a person’s eligibility changes.
JURY in DENVER ACQUITTED DAVITA and FORMER CEO
A jury in Denver acquitted dialysis provider DaVita and its former CEO Kent Thiry on Friday of charges that they conspired with competing employers not to hire each other's key employees.
The verdict, which came after two days of deliberations, marks a resounding defeat for government prosecutors who had targeted the dialysis giant’s non-poaching agreements with rival companies in an unprecedented criminal conspiracy case. Read more
The Colorado Refugee Services Program
CRSP is a program of the Colorado Department of Human Services and is responsible for the statewide coordination of refugee resettlement under the authority of the Refugee Act of 1980. CRSP does not offer any direct services but instead works through a constellation of contracts and partners to achieve goals. Services and programs support refugees and the larger receiving community working together to build the social capital necessary to sustain a welcoming environment for refugees and build a stronger Colorado for us all. Read more.
