The No Surprises Act (NSA) took effect on Jan. 1. Included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260), the NSA protects patients from surprise medical bills and outlines rules providers must follow when delivering out-of-network care, including the process for resolving payment disputes. The law also includes provider price transparency provisions for patients considering or scheduling care, requiring providers, including physicians and facilities, to notify patients of their right to receive a good faith estimate. The NSA also requires health plans to maintain accurate provider directories and verify provider information every 90 days. Physicians are required to submit regular updates to health plans to assist with their verification and updates to the provider directory information.
Neurosurgeons should become familiar with the law’s requirements. A plethora of resources is available, including:
