As of January 1, 2022 federal regulations require certain patient protections to address concerns about surprise bills.  These protections address emergency care as well as disclosure requirements for all uninsured or self-pay services, and will, at some point in the future also include patients with insurance.  The regulations formalize some of what psychiatrists already do when communicating fees to patients.  The APA posted a summary of the key requirements along with links to templates.

The Maryland Insurance Administration has a new webpage explaining the federal No Surprises Act for consumers. It reviews balance billing, surprise billing, and new consumer protections in 2022. It also outlines options for appealing unexpected bills and resolving disputes, and points out that insurance companies must limit copays, coinsurance, and deductibles to in-network amounts if consumers rely on inaccurate information in a provider directory. Click here to access the page.