Federal Agencies Hold 20 Stakeholder Meetings on No Surprises Act Arbitration Rule Changes

The federal government is supposed to unveil changes to the No Surprises Act’s arbitration process any day now, as of May 11, 2026. Health care providers and insurers are racing to have the final word before the new No Surprises Act arbitration rules are published.

The four agencies crafting the Independent Dispute Resolution Operations final rule held 20 meetings with industry groups so far this year as of May 11, 2026.

Just four of the 20 meetings were with health insurers or their trade groups. Thirteen of the 20 meetings were with providers or their trade groups, and three of the 20 meetings were with other sectors. Stakeholders can request to meet with agency officials to highlight their priorities and submit relevant materials.

@statnews reported that the meetings were mostly virtual. The departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, Treasury, and the Office of Personnel Management released an initial version of the Independent Dispute Resolution rule in November 2023. The proposed changes to the No Surprises Act arbitration process include tweaks to how claims can be grouped together.

The proposed changes to the No Surprises Act arbitration process include more transparency into pre-arbitration negotiations and changes to fees. The law has protected patients, but its costs are soaring as far more disputes are funneled through arbitration. Doctors and insurers are battling to reshape the controversial No Surprises Act arbitration process, which has long frustrated both sides.

Tara Bannow, hospitals and insurance reporter for @statnews, wrote that one side is getting a lot more face time with officials. The final rule has been a long time coming. Providers have used the stakeholder meeting process far more actively than insurers in the months leading up to the expected release.