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The No Surprises Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2022, made it illegal for insured patients to be billed for more than their in-network rate for costs resulting from emergency-related care and treatments from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society persistently advocated for this bill to be enacted into law.

Although the No Surprises Act is already in effect, the Texas Medical Association and the American Medical Association (Plaintiffs) both brought separate legal challenges against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to strip the No Surprises Act of its key protections for patients against surprise billing arguing against the rules that were developed to implement the law. In response, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and 11 other patient advocacy groups, led by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, respectfully submitted an amicus brief in each case to further advocate in support of the implementing regulations for the No Surprises Act.

The Society strongly supports the dismissal of these lawsuits because the implementing regulations align with the Congressional intent, to protect patients from surprise bills and lower health care costs. Many people living with MS are among the one in six Americans who have received a surprise medical bill in the past. Given the devastating financial impact that these bills can have, the Society has proudly joined the amici to protect patients and the enactment of the No Surprises Act.