{
  "id": 195283,
  "title": "Health Plans Losing Court Battles in No Surprises Act Cases",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/health-plans-losing-court-battles-in-no-surprises-act-cases",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-05T21:36:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MedPage Today",
    "slug": "medpage-today",
    "url": "https://www.medpagetoday.com/practicemanagement/reimbursement/122506"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The No Surprises Act, signed into law in 2020, aims to shield patients from unexpected bills for out-of-network care and ensure fair contracts between health plans and physicians. However, the act's independent dispute resolution (IDR) clause, which mandates arbitration to resolve billing disputes, remains uncertain as it navigates through the courts. Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. dismissed a Georgia lawsuit against HaloMD and two physician groups, stating that the court lacks jurisdiction to re-examine the awarded sums, especially since the law protects them from further legal review. The judge noted that the plaintiff's numerous losses in IDR arbitrations suggest a pattern of submitting low-ball offers to maximize profits. Multiple lawsuits, including those by Anthem Blue Cross in California, Aetna in Florida, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas in Texas, have also been dismissed. Insurer trade group AHIP criticized the rulings, calling for action to curb frivolous spending and protect consumers. Providers argue that health plans are delaying payments or not paying at all. However, the practicality of providers pursuing legal action against payers remains limited. While providers may have high win rates in IDR proceedings, other factors, such as inappropriate provider submissions or low offers, could explain these results.",
  "summary": "(MedPage Today) -- The fate of the No Surprises Act's independent dispute resolution (IDR) clause continues to hang in the balance as it winds its way through the courts. The No Surprises Act, signed into law in 2020 by President Donald Trump...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}