Study: California Surprise Billing Fix Has Led To Provider Consolidation

California's rate-setting model has reduced the number of surprise bills consumers face, according to a study from the RAND Corporation, but it has also shifted bargaining power toward insurers and has led to physician group consolidation. Many insurers and employer groups point to California as a successful example of using rate-setting to curb surprise medical bills as Congress debates a federal fix for surprise billing. “Although several states have policies in place to address surprise medical billing, California is one...