High Country Times

Physicians across the United States may soon find relief from an undue financial burden imposed by health insurers. A new legislative initiative titled 'No Fees for EFTs Act' has been introduced to help them deliver essential, high-quality care without incurring percentage-based fees on electronic payments for healthcare services.

Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., said that the fees tied to electronic transactions for physician services represent an unwarranted and excessive expense for healthcare providers and patients, as stated in a press release by Murphy House Gov. He condemned health insurers for their apparent greed, accusing them of exploiting doctors and patients throughout the healthcare process purely for monetary gain. Congressman Murphy likened this situation to receiving direct deposits for paychecks free of charges and insisted that doctors and patients should not fall prey to exploitative charges on electronic payments for crucial health services.

In a similar vein, Congresswoman Marianette Miller-Meeks, M.D., highlighted the hurdles faced by physicians and hospitals in rural areas where timely delivery of care is already a substantial challenge. According to Murphy House Gov, she identified additional administrative burdens brought on by electronic fund transfers (EFTs) and payment transactions. Based on her own experience as a doctor, Miller-Meeks emphasized prioritizing patient care over debilitating EFT fees resulting from an outdated clause in the Affordable Care Act. She warned that during times of high inflation when reimbursements fail to keep pace with costs, these fees can skyrocket practice expenses leading potentially even to closure of medical facilities.

The American Medical Association (AMA) commended Representatives Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), and Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) for their efforts in protecting patients' access to healthcare. Dr. Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, President of the AMA, shed light on the challenges faced by physicians such as decreased reimbursement rates, onerous prior authorization requirements and restrictive networks established by insurers.