Speaker Coughlin to Testify on Combating Surprise Out-of-Network Medical Bills

‘Out-of-network Consumer Protection, Transparency, Cost Containment and Accountability Act’ to Get Hearing

Assembly Committee Begins Work on a Top Speaker Priority to Protect Consumers

            (TRENTON) – Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin will testify Monday as an Assembly committee begins work on one of his top priorities – combating surprise out-of-network medical bills.

            Coughlin will testify at 11 a.m. Monday as the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee begins discussing the Out-of-network Consumer Protection, Transparency, Cost Containment and Accountability Act (A-2039).

            The committee will meet in Committee Room 11 on the 4^th floor of the State House Annex.

            The bill intends to eliminate surprise out-of-network health care charges when an individual receives medically-necessary emergency services or inadvertent out-of-network care.

“Far too many New Jersey families – even those with quality health benefits plans – find themselves fighting over thousands of dollars in out-of-network charges they never even had the opportunity to review, let alone agree to, before receiving medical attention,” said Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “This legislation is about putting patients first and defending the consumer’s right to be able to make an informed decision about how to proceed with their health care.”

            The bill is designed to enhance consumer protections and create an arbitration system to resolve health care billing disputes, contain rising costs and measure success with respect to these goals.

            The committee will also consider legislation (A-2035) sponsored by its chairman, Assemblyman John McKeon (D-Essex/Morris), to revise New Jersey Residential Mortgage Lending Act.