Texas Law Allows Patients to Use Mediators to Resolve Health Bills But Mediators Reluctant to Participate
January 26, 2010
A Texas law passed in June allows Texans to use a mediator to negotiate disputed charges of more than $1,000 by healthcare providers, but many mediators are reluctant to participate in such negotiations, according to a report by the Dallas Morning News.
Under the law, mediators are required to determine whether or not physicians or healthcare facilities acted in "bad faith." However, many mediators claim that the definition of "bad faith" under the law is too vague, according to the report.
Physicians and hospitals are also allowed to select the mediator, under the law, which creates concern for mediators who fear they could be "blacklisted" if they side against a provider, according to the report.
The law, which was written by Republican state Rep. Kelly Hancock is intended to give recourse to patients who question billing practices, according to the report.
Mediators intend to work to improve the law's language so that their services can be used in such negotiations in the future, according to the report.
Read the Dallas Morning News' report on Texas health bill mediation.
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