YOUR RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS
WHAT IS “SURPRISE BILLING”?
When you see a doctor or other healthcare provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. If the provider or healthcare facility that you receive care at isn’t in your health plan’s network, you may have other out of pocket costs or are responsible for the entire bill, or “balance billing”. “Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan.
“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill or out of pocket costs that you didn’t know about. This can happen when you can’t control who provides your care, such as in an emergency, or when you have visits at an in network facility but are treated by an out of network provider.
The Federal Government and the State of Massachusetts have enacted new laws to provide patients with protections against “Surprise Billing”. These laws also allow patients to request and receive good faith estimates of out of pocket costs for care. To receive a good faith estimate from VMG please complete the request form on this page under resources or contact the billing department.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR THINK YOU'VE BEEN WRONGLY BILLED
If you have a question about your medical bill from Valley Medical Group, call our billing department at 1-866-431-4077.
If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed you may contact:
• Centers for Medicare Service (CMS) at 1-800-985-3059, Website: https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
• Massachusetts Attorney General’s office at 1-888-830-6277, or online at https://www.mass.gov/how-to/file-a-health-care-complaint
RESOURCES FOR PATIENTS:
• Frequently asked questions document
• No Surprises Understand your Rights against Surprise Medical Bills document
• Good Faith Estimate (Fill out form below)
Contact us before you plan to schedule your service. We will respond to you in writing within two business days after receiving your request.
Visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website for more information about your rights under federal law. Visit Mass.Gov for more information about your rights under Massachusetts state laws