A bill concerning the surprise billing practices of the medical flight industry might bring a solution soon. The insurance companies and the medical flight industry have been in the midst of a heavily fought battle around this. Both parties have time and again blamed each other for the high air ambulance bills that patients receive. Such developments have also resulted in bad press for both the players. However, bringing the air ambulance industry to compromise on its billing practices has so far seemed impossible. This is mainly because the states have little control over them and the Federal Government has been sitting over it for quite some time.
The COVID-19 Situation and the Medical Flight Bill
The COVID-19 pandemic had definitely delayed the passage of any bill related to surprise billing practices of the medical flight industry. However, it now seems that it may be passed along with the COVID-19 relief bill. Politicians have intervened to get both parties to find a middle ground, but it has largely been unsuccessful. Both the industries have not budged from their stand but it must be noted that most medical flight service providers have tried to get into insurance networks in recent times.
What Will the Bill Do?
The Federal bill will prohibit medical flight service providers from charging the patients directly for their services in the event that they are out of the patient’s insurance network. This is mainly being done as any patient, during critical times, has no time to contemplate the choices. On the question as to what would happen when a patient wilfully chooses an out-of-network medical flight, he or she might have to pay out of pocket, but there are restrictions. The medical flight service provider can only charge the patient if the patient is given 72 hours to analyze the costs. The patient’s consent to use the services in such instances is also important. If the bill goes through, it could change the landscape of the medical flight industry.
