How Collaborative Action Can Support Litigation as an Advocacy Strategy (Concurrent Session Panel)-How Collaborative Action Can Support Litigation as an Advocacy Strategy

How Collaborative Action Can Support Litigation as an Advocacy Strategy

Pdf Summary

This document discusses the concept of collaborative action in supporting litigation as an advocacy strategy. It highlights the importance of collaboration in advocacy efforts, pushing back against disinformation, targeting multiple advocacy audiences, and addressing the challenges physicians face against the insurance industry. The document provides a timeline of aligned advocacy efforts, focusing on the issue of surprise medical bills. It explains what surprise bills are and the factors that contribute to them. <br /><br />The timeline highlights the legislative actions taken to address surprise billing, including the introduction of bills and orders, staff briefings, and the passing of the No Surprises Act (NSA). The NSA aims to protect patients from balance billing for out-of-network services and establishes a dispute resolution process. However, the document notes some issues with the implementation of the NSA, such as the elevated focus on the Qualified Payment Amount (QPA) in the arbitration process, which disproportionately benefits insurers.<br /><br />The document discusses ongoing efforts, including joint lawsuits against regulatory misinterpretation and outsized influence by insurers. It highlights the risks faced by physicians and patients due to insurer actions and the impact on practice resources and access to care. The document also mentions ongoing efforts to support lawsuits, generate evidence, and coordinate messaging.<br /><br />Lessons learned and elements of success are highlighted, including the importance of board chair and CEO engagement, regular communication, collaborative decision-making, resource sharing, and teamwork between staff leaders in advocacy, legal, and communication. The document concludes by emphasizing the effectiveness of litigation as a complement to legislative strategies when advocating for physicians and against the insurance industry.

Keywords

collaborative action

litigation

advocacy strategy

surprise medical bills

No Surprises Act

balance billing

implementation issues

physician risks

patient risks

litigation effectiveness