News
Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Key No Surprises Act Payment Formula
Federal court struck down two key QPA calculation methods, but insurers still use them to determine out-of-network emergency bill payments.
September 21, 2026
News
Medical billing news: new state and federal laws, charity care rule changes, hospital settlements, enforcement actions and patient refund programs.
News
Congress Weighs Changes to No Surprises Act Billing Dispute Process
Federal regulators cut IDR dispute fees to $15 and Congress weighs penalties for insurers ignoring arbitration decisions on surprise medical bills.
September 21, 2026
News
Federal Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Ban Wage Garnishment for Medical Debt
Lawmakers propose banning wage garnishment for medical debt, protecting workers from 25% paycheck deductions for health-related bills.
September 21, 2026
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Kentucky Launches Medical Debt Relief Program Expected to Erase $250 Million
Kentucky erases $250 million in medical debt for 130,000+ residents earning under 400% of poverty level—no application needed.
September 21, 2026
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New Jersey Cancels $90 Million in Medical Debt for Nearly 20,000 Residents
Nearly 20,000 New Jersey residents had $90 million in medical debt automatically cancelled in September 2026 without any action on their part.
September 20, 2026
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Charity Care Refunds: What to Do If You Paid a Bill You Qualified to Have Waived
You can request a refund for hospital bills you paid if you later qualify for charity care, even months later under federal law.
September 20, 2026
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Why State Attorneys General Are Targeting Hospital Charity Care
Nonprofit hospitals dodge charity care obligations through confusing applications and debt collection—prompting state attorneys general to pursue settlements.
September 20, 2026
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Mayo Clinic Settlement Requires Charity Care for Presumptively Eligible Patients
Mayo Clinic must now offer free charity care automatically to low-income patients without requiring an application, under a March 2025 Minnesota settlement.
September 19, 2026
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CHI Franciscan to Provide Up to $25 Million in Charity Care Restitution
CHI Franciscan will refund millions and forgive medical debt for patients denied charity care between 2012–2017.
September 19, 2026
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What the New Machine-Readable Price Files Mean for Patients
Hospitals and insurers now publish actual prices paid for services, letting you see realistic cost ranges before scheduling through third-party comparison tools.
September 17, 2026
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Hospital Price Transparency Enforcement Starts April 1, 2026
Hospitals now must publish real procedure prices based on insurance claims data, starting April 1, 2026—and can't hide behind estimates.
September 17, 2026
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Hospitals Must Post Actual Prices, Not Estimates, Under New CMS Rule
Hospitals must post real prices based on claims data—not estimates—starting April 2026, letting you compare costs and negotiate beforehand.
September 17, 2026