Swinging For Fairness: Law Creates New Ballgame for Surprise Billing.

When Senate Bill 1264 was first introduced in February, insurers had the bases loaded, threatening to score a lopsided surprise-billing victory on one swing. With some deft pitching in the Texas Legislature, medicine worked its way out of the jam. The "baseball-style arbitration" measure by Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) isn't perfect, and like a hitter who's getting busted inside, physicians will have adjustments to make. But the improved SB 1264 passed with a framework that's fairer to everyone involved.