Health care
Americans are spending way too much on health care, and getting far too little in return. Together we can bring down the cost of prescription drugs, prevent surprise medical bills, get providers to rein in skyrocketing costs, and more.
The Latest on Health care
Were you charged a ‘facility fee’ on your medical bill?
PIRG builds on campaign to improve hospital price transparency to drive down high prices in health care
Updates
Consumer bureau proposes removing medical debt from credit reports
Sign up for a quick primer on medical bill protections
Medical Bills: Everything you need to know about your rights.
Featured Resources
Acute Confusion
Outpatient outrage: Hospitals charge facility fees for care at the doctor’s office
A bad deal: Why you don’t want (medical credit) cards in your hand
Medical Bills: Everything you need to know about your rights
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Release: As bills from 2022 medical care arrive in mailboxes, patients should know their rights
Patients who received medical care in January and February are starting to receive their medical bills for those services. That’s why, in recognition of National Consumer Protection Week, it’s timely to remind people to check their bills carefully and make sure they know their new legal protections against surprise billing.
Patient Guide: Surprise medical billing protections you can use now
As of January 1, 2022, insured patients are protected from out-of-network balance bills, also known as surprise bills. PIRG explains your new protections.
TexPIRG expresses frustration with doctors’ lawsuit that could delay implementation of surprise billing protections
Today the Texas Medical Association filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas to put a stop to newly proposed rules regarding implementation of the No Surprises Act. The No Surprises Act will go into effect January 1, 2022, and is lauded as a landmark consumer law to protect millions of Americans from most unfair surprise medical bills from out-of-network providers. These surprise bills come from balance billing -- when out-of-network medical professionals charge patients the difference between their fees and the maximum amount allowed by their insurance company. Studies show one in five patients are hit with a surprise medical bill after receiving care in a hospital or emergency room.
Another longtail of COVID-19: medical debt
How the pandemic has worsened the medical debt crisis
COVID-19 tests and vaccines are free to consumers. End of story.
Some consumers continue to be billed for COVID tests and vaccines. So let's get the story straight here.