Beginning January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act (H.R. 133) went into effect. The law includes new requirements for health care providers, facilities, health plans and insurers which are intended to prevent consumers (a.k.a. patients) from receiving unanticipated medical bills. Part 2 regulations on good faith estimates requires all health care providers and health care facilities licensed, certified or approved by the state to provide good faith estimates of expected charges for services offered to uninsured and self-pay patients. This means beginning January 1, 2022, LMFTs must provide a good faith estimate of expected charges for services within specific timeframes to uninsured or private pay current and future patients. These new regulations set forth specific requirements for what these good faith estimates must contain and add to LMFT providers’ recordkeeping responsibilities:​

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

• You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees. 

• Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. 

• If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

• Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 971-808-0121.