OIC extends Balance Billing Protection Act arbitration process until at least January 1, 2024

On a related note, the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner recently announced that the dispute resolution mechanism under the state’s Balance Billing Protection Act (BBPA) would be extended by a minimum of six months, until at least January 1, 2024. WSHA summitted comments requesting the commissioner extend the BBPA arbitration mechanism, given the continuing struggles with the process under the No Surprises Act. Under HB 1688, the state’s BBPA arbitration process is scheduled to expire June 30, 2022 but can be extended at the discretion of the commissioner. The BBPA arbitration process applies to state-regulated insurance and also self-funded groups that have voluntarily elected into the BBPA provisions and requirements. OIC will determine and announce whether the BBPA mechanism is to be extended beyond January 1, 2024 by September 1, 2023. (Andrew Busz, andrewb@wsha.org)