Indiana Hospital Association praises passage of federal COVID relief bill, surprise patient billing protections

Editor’s note: Indiana Hospital Association President Brian Tabor released the following statement on Monday, Dec. 21, following the passage through Congress of the latest federal COVID relief bill that same day.

“We applaud Indiana’s congressional delegation for sending a lifeline to Hoosiers with the passage of this relief package, which ensures patients will no longer receive surprise medical bills,” said IHA President Brian Tabor. “While Congress has acted to protect patients, we urge insurance companies, who have fared well during the pandemic, to do their part. With Indiana’s new pandemic-related postponement of certain non-urgent procedures, Hoosiers are concerned about paying their medical bills next year as insurance deductibles reset. Indiana’s hospitals are doing everything they can to reschedule patients as soon as possible, but we need insurance companies to assure patients that they will not face unfair out-of-pocket costs in 2021.”

About the Indiana Hospital Association

The Indiana Hospital Association serves as the professional trade association for more than 170 acute care, critical access, behavioral health, and other specialized hospitals in Indiana. IHA advocates on behalf of its members in Indiana’s General Assembly, U.S. Congress, and with multiple regulatory agencies at the state and federal levels. Dedicated to improving quality, patient safety, and Hoosiers’ health status, IHA holds numerous grants and facilitates collaboration among hospitals to improve outcomes. IHA also provides members with the data analytics that they need to ensure access to quality, cost-effective health care services across the state of Indiana. To learn more about IHA, visit IHAconnect.org.