(July 23, 2025) The Emergency Department Practice Management Association (EDPMA), the nation’s only professional trade association dedicated to delivering high-quality, cost-effective care in the emergency department, supports the introduction of the No Surprises Act Enforcement Act which aims to ensure timely payment of arbitration awards under the No Surprises Act’s (NSA) Independent Dispute Resolution Process, thereby preserving the nation’s healthcare safety net.
Emergency departments are the cornerstone of our healthcare system, delivering life-saving care to anyone, at any time, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. This bill, which reinforces the NSA’s timely reimbursement requirements, helps to ensure emergency departments, hospitals, and other critical care providers can continue delivering high-quality, accessible care without financial uncertainty, particularly in underserved and rural areas.
Limited enforcement and minimal consequences for health plans have left emergency departments and physician practices burdened by inadequate initial payments and ongoing noncompliance with independent arbitration decisions, despite legal requirements for timely payment. To ensure continued and uninterrupted access to critical care, a stable financial foundation built on sufficient, timely, and consistent reimbursement is essential, which is why EDPMA supports today’s enforcement legislation.
A bipartisan group of legislators (Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC), joined by Reps. Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA), Joyce, M.D. (R-PA), Panetta (D-CA), Onder M.D. (R-MO) and Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) as original cosponsors), of The No Surprises Act Enforcement Act. Sens. Marshall M.D. (R-KS) and Bennet (D-CO) simultaneously reintroduced the bill in Senate.
With this legislation, health insurance companies that fail to pay providers in a timely manner after an independent dispute resolution decision will face consequences for ignoring clear statutory obligations. The legislation is designed to reinforce the fair and balanced process that Congress provided in the original No Surprises Act.
“EDPMA fully supports the patient protections established in the No Surprises Act and welcomes this necessary step by Congress to enforce the law as intended. By ensuring fair and timely reimbursement, this bill allows emergency physicians and hospital teams to focus on what matters most, delivering high-quality patient care and improving health outcomes,” said EDPMA Chair, William Freudenthal, MD. “Independent dispute resolution outcomes have consistently confirmed that insurers are underpaying providers at unsustainable rates, putting community-based practices and patient access to care at risk. Health plans that have been exploiting the No Surprises Act will finally be held accountable.”
EDPMA applauds the introduction of this critical legislation. If enacted, it will ensure that insurance companies pay emergency physicians and their practices fairly and on time—allowing them to continue providing essential care without financial uncertainty, becoming a barrier to timely treatment. EDPMA urges both the House and Senate to swiftly advance and pass this bipartisan bill.