Health · Healthcare & Policy · 1 hr ago
US cuts off two groups handling surprise medical bill disputes
The Trump administration barred two groups from taking new billing disputes under the No Surprises Act.
The groups, IPRO and Network Medical Review Company, had arbitrated payment disputes between doctors and insurers in the United States.
The law’s process is meant to keep patients out of disputes over surprise bills.
The government said both groups failed to meet minimum performance standards.
An investigation found arbitrators often favored clinicians, and one of the two companies let doctors win 96 percent of the time; it also reported that IPRO and other arbitrators made large profits.
Network Medical Review said it would appeal, and both groups can challenge the decision.
The Trump administration is ending the authority of two groups to take on new disputes over surprise medical bills.
It said Island Peer Review Organization, known as IPRO, and Network Medical Review Company failed to meet minimum performance standards.
The groups had arbitrated payment disputes between doctors and insurers under the No Surprises Act.
Network Medical Review said it would appeal the decision.
The action followed a STAT investigation that found IPRO and other arbitrators often ruled in favor of clinicians and made large profits.
- Who
- The Trump administration is cutting off IPRO and Network Medical Review Company.
- What
- The groups can no longer accept new surprise medical bill disputes. They can appeal the decision.
- When
- The government announced the decision on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
- Where
- United States.
- Why
- The government said the groups failed to meet minimum performance standards.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A STAT investigation found that IPRO and other arbitrators were making large profits and frequently deciding in favor of clinicians.
The government announced that IPRO and Network Medical Review could no longer accept new disputes.
- Groups affected
- IPRO and Network Medical Review Company
- New disputes
- The two groups can no longer accept them
- Stated reason
- Failure to meet minimum performance standards
- Appeal
- Network Medical Review said it would appeal
- Dispute process
- Billing disputes between doctors and insurers under the No Surprises Act
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What people are saying
to meet minimum performance standards