Senators introduce bill to rein in Medicare Advantage delays 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D.-Nev., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., have introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve Medicare Advantage’s billing practices. 

The senators say the bill would offer certainty to health care providers who contract with MA plans and ensure that seniors aren't stuck with unfair, confusing or delayed bills after receiving critical care. 

“Nevadans who rely on Medicare Advantage deserve the peace of mind that when they go to the doctor’s office or hospital, their MA plan will pay providers for their care in a timely manner, and they won’t be sent a delayed bill many months later,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This bipartisan legislation makes commonsense fixes to Medicare Advantage’s billing practices that will help health care providers and patients by bringing transparency and stability to the program.” 

The bill would: 

• Require MA plans to pay providers faster and more reliably; 
• Defines "clean claims" according to widely accepted national standards; 
• Sets minimum timely payment standards; and 
• Aligns rules for in-and out-of-network claims. 

Companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives is led by Reps. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, and Linda Sánchez, D-Calif. 

The bills are supported by: 

• Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) 
• American Hospital Association (AHA) 
• National Rural Health Association (NRHA) 
• American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), America’s Essential Hospitals (AEH) 
• American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Psychiatric Association (APA) 
• Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action) 
• Nevada Hospital Association 
• Texas Hospital Association 
• California Hospital Association, Vizient and OCHIN 

Go here for the full text of the bill.