Illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios
Rep. Greg Murphy has rolled out a bill to prevent insurers and vendors from charging medical practices fees for receiving reimbursements through electronic funds transfers.
Why it matters: Insurers now routinely require doctors to kick back as much as 5% if they want to be paid electronically. Here's some background from ProPublica.
- The practice dates to 2017, when CMS removed a notice telling payers that they weren't allowed to charge such fees.
- The Medical Group Management Association said more than 75% of members' annual revenue is via EFTs and can cost up to $1 million annually.
The details: The bill would clarify that health plans and their vendors are prohibited from imposing fees for EFT payment, to protect the financial viability of medical practices and their ability to provide cost-effective care.
What they're saying: "We don't tolerate paying fees to receive direct deposit of a paycheck, likewise, doctors and patients should not be forced to pay predatory fees on electronic payments on essential health services," said Murphy, a urologist.
- Other physician-lawmakers who've signed on include Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Kim Schrier.
