To the Editor:

I am writing to correct a statement made in your coverage of a new Illinois law relating to payment for hospital based care (Doctors fighting new Illinois law that bars balance billing, 7/11). The article incorrectly states “The Illinois State Medical Society, which initially supported the law, now opposes it, sources say.”

The Illinois State Medical Society has never supported this harmful legislation. In fact, we twice testified against this law when it was under consideration by the Illinois General Assembly. The portrayal of this law as a tool to protect patients is inaccurate as well. Since 2007 Illinois regulations have required that patients be held harmless by their insurance company for any difference in the amount billed by an out-of-network physician for services provided at in-network hospital settings, so patients were protected prior to this law.  This should really be referred to as protection for health insurance companies -- the only real winners under this unfair statute.

Sincerely,

Wayne V. Polek, MD
President, Illinois State Medical Society