05/26/2023
I am a very positive person. But a topic that I want to make you aware of is actually something that will impact your quality of life. You need to bring up this topic to your local representative and senators. A piece of legislation called the “Surprise Billing Act” has allowed insurance companies to delay payment to providers, hospitals, and medical entities.
Although the initial intent of this bill was well intended the result has led to payment to healthcare providers being dramatically slowed down. Medical Claims that were once paid in 15 - 100 days are now being around an average of 200 days post services rendered. This has resulted in several providers, healthcare facilities, and companies to take loans, dig into cash reserves, and ultimately shut down.
A great example of this is if you could go to the grocery store and buy a gallon of milk, but you do not have to pay for the milk for 200 days. The grocery store needs to pay the dairy, the dairy needs to pay the farmer, and the farmer still needs to feed the cow. However, no farmer could ever, nor would they be able to afford to not be able to be paid for 200 days without going bankrupt.
This is happening right now and I am sad to say that your doctor, mri services, and every other healthcare provider that accepts commercial insurance is about to face some very tough choices in the upcoming weeks due to cash flow issues. Please support these people by calling your insurance providers and your politicians. The quality and access to healthcare is being impacted by this law everyday. You are and will start to see in the upcoming days healthcare staff, providers, and personnel being laid off due to lack of payments. You are also going to see facilities shutting down and access to healthcare being drastically limited.
This can be fixed very quickly by insurance companies simply paying the money owed to providers.