Trump Administration Targets Surprise Billing System as Doctor Payouts Near $15 Billion
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 22
Trump Administration Targets Surprise Billing System as Doctor Payouts Near $15 Billion
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 22
Summary
$15 billion in doctor payouts flowed through the No Surprises Act arbitration system in 2025, up from $4 billion in 2024, according to new CMS data released Wednesday.
CMS said some doctors and billing firms are exploiting the dispute process to win higher out-of-network payments, and a spokesman said the agency is working to clean up the system.
The 2020 law largely shielded patients from surprise emergency bills by sending payment fights between insurers and out-of-network doctors to federal arbitration.
New York Times reporting has highlighted unusually large awards under that system, including $440,000 for one breast reduction case and $196,566 for assisting a scoliosis surgery.