The No Surprises Act, a federal law that took effect in January 2022, was meant to protect patients from surprise medical bills but has created new problems for self-insured employers. More than 3.3 million payment disputes have been filed through the federal Independent Dispute Resolution process since 2022, often taking three times longer than allowed by law. Providers win about 85 percent of cases and often receive payments three to four times higher than normal in-network rates, adding over $5 billion in extra costs to employers.

While Tennessee has long been a leader in healthcare innovation and typically favors limited government regulation, recent actions by the General Assembly have stood out nationally for giving providers unfair advantages in their billing practices. TEBA is committed to working with lawmakers to bring provider fees in line with national averages, ensuring fair costs for employers and the employees who depend on them.