Prognosis

Senators Borrow From Baseball to Fix Surprise Medical Bills

Patients land in the middle when doctors and insurers disagree
New York state uses arbitration to resolve pricing disputes

Fans watch as the Philadelphia Phillies take fielding and batting practice before the continuation of game five of the Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008.Photographer: BRADLEY C. BOWER

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By John Tozzi

February 7, 2019 at 10:00 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

In most markets, when a buyer and a seller can’t settle on a price, they walk away. Medicine is different.

Doctors and insurance companies often sort out who owes what only after a patient has been treated, especially in emergencies. When they disagree, patients can end up with unexpected bills they can’t pay.