Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)
Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced that bipartisan legislation he authored to better empower patients with up-to-date information on healthcare providers covered by their insurance plans, was signed into law as part of the most recent government funding package. The Requiring Enhanced and Accurate Lists (REAL) Health Providers Act requires Medicare Advantage insurance plans to update their provider directories annually starting in 2028.
Provider directories are supposed to help patients find doctors and specialists in their networks. But too often, insurers allow these directories to become outdated, creating so-called “ghost networks” of providers who are listed, but no longer practicing, not accepting patients, or not being in-network. These errors can force patients into delays, denials, or unexpected bills.
A recent review of provider directories revealed that one in three listed providers had inaccurate or non-working numbers, and over 80% of listed mental health providers were either unreachable, not accepting new patients, or not actually in-network. These gaps hit seniors, people with disabilities, and those with mental health needs especially hard1.
“Many constituents came to me over the past few years expressing their understandable frustration with wasting time chasing providers who are listed in their network directories, but actually don’t exist,” said Rep. Panetta. “With that information, I wrote a straightforward bill that directly fixes the problem by reducing and tightening up these Ghost Networks. I also found that many of my Congressional colleagues on both sides of the aisle have been hearing the same issue from their constituents all across the nation. This bipartisan law requires Medicare Advantage plans to now regularly update their directories and give patients accurate information. I believe that this law is an example of my work to listen to constituents, be their voice through this type of legislation, and work with Democrats and Republicans, including the President, to get this bill signed into law to help make people’s lives a little bit easier, which is needed especially these days.”
The Requiring Enhanced and Accurate Lists (REAL) Health Providers Act is co-led by Reps. Greg Murphy (NC-03), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and John Joyce (PA-13).
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