HealthPolitics

STAT+: House Democrat seeks to scrap No Surprises Act’s costly arbitration process

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 08/10/2026, 22:36:25 UTC.

Briefings

A Democratic proposal in Congress aims to replace the No Surprises Act's arbitration system with a payment model based on median in-network rates. The bill, authored by Rep. Frank Pallone, faces significant opposition from provider groups who view arbitration as a lucrative revenue stream. The proposal was unveiled on October 8, 2026, and has received mixed reactions from academics and advocates who praise its consumer protection goals, while provider groups condemn it as a threat to their financial interests.

Key points

• The proposed legislation, known as the Lower Premiums, Faster Payments Act, would replace the current arbitration system used to resolve disputes between health insurers and out-of-network providers with a payment system based on median in-network rates.
• Rep. Frank Pallone, a Democratic representative from New Jersey, authored the bill and stated in a statement that the No Surprises Act has been an 'overwhelming success' in protecting patients from surprise bills.

Context and limitations

The evidence covers a single proposal unveiled on October 8, 2026, and does not include data on implementation timelines, specific financial figures, or long-term outcomes. Coverage is limited to the initial legislative proposal and immediate reactions from key stakeholders.

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