Phil Murphy, the New Jersey Governor, signed a bill into law earlier this week aimed at limiting out-of-network health care costs, which supporters say could be tens of thousands of dollars. The bill now requires hospitals to disclose to patients which out-of-network providers will be charging them before they undergo treatment or surgery.
This should limit the amount of unexpected bills that patients receive.
Proponents of the law, including state health care trade group Better Choices Better Care and the New Jersey Hospital Association, say it will ultimately lower the cost of health care in the state, and pointed out that exorbitant, out-of-network bills have forced some consumers into bankruptcy.
By contrast, physician groups such as the Medical Society of New Jersey and the New Jersey Doctor-Patient Alliance contend the law gives too much pricing power to health insurance companies and could ultimately drive doctors out of the state.
