STAT+: No Surprises Act arbitration rule could worsen flood of provider disputes

STAT PlusBusiness No Surprises Act arbitration rule could worsen flood of provider disputes The rule makes it easier, and cheaper, to file disputes Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Tara BannowJune 1, 2026 Hospitals and Insurance Reporter Tara Bannow[email protected]Tara covers the business of health care. Her stories focus on hospitals, doctors, and how their business practices affect patients — especially when private equity gets involved. She also writes about health insurance and ideas for improving our broken health system. You can reach Tara on Signal at tarabannow.70. Health insurers, providers, and consumer advocates praised the Trump administration’s long-awaited fixes to the No Surprises Act’s arbitration process, but some warned they won’t address its most pernicious problem: the provider gaming that’s costing millions. The final rule issued Thursday makes changes designed to improve communication between insurers and providers and give Medicare more visibility into their negotiations. Other tweaks are aimed at attacking the problems of ineligible disputes and of arbitration being used as a catch-all instead of a last resort. Advertisement “It does make meaningful progress to reduce burdens and streamline, but we need additional action to address some of the underlying incentives that are driving overuse of the process,” said Jennifer Jones, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s senior director of legislative and regulatory policy. “We need more to address the egregious award amounts.” STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily market-moving biopharma analysis — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In CMS, health care costs, Health insurance, Physicians, Policy, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Tara Bannow Hospitals and Insurance Reporter Tara covers the business of health care. Her stories focus on hospitals, doctors, and how their business practices affect patients — especially when private equity gets involved. She also writes about health insurance and ideas for improving our broken health system. You can reach Tara on Signal at tarabannow.70. Newsletter Unpacking the business — and secretive inner workings — of the U.S. health care industry Recommended Politics June 1, 2026 STAT Plus: Medicare still won’t say how much covering obesity drugs will cost The Readout May 29, 2026 STAT Plus: Allogene CEO David Chang stepping down Advertisement Exclusive May 29, 2026 STAT Plus: Massachusetts sues UnitedHealth, alleging fraud in state’s Medicaid plans for seniors D.C. Diagnosis May 28, 2026 STAT Plus: Trump’s pharma deals get tested The Readout May 28, 2026 STAT Plus: Ahead of ASCO, all eyes on pancreatic cancer Subscriber Picks