What is the No Surprises act and does it apply to telemedicine?

The No Surprises Act is a U.S. law that protects patients from unexpected medical bills, especially from out-of-network providers.

It can apply to telemedicine in certain cases — mainly for uninsured or self-pay patients who are entitled to cost estimates. However, most telehealth visits (including DrHouse) already have clear, upfront pricing, so surprise billing is generally not an issue.

Quick Answer

• Protects against unexpected (surprise) medical bills
• Applies mainly to emergency and out-of-network care
• Can apply to telemedicine in limited cases
• Requires cost estimates for uninsured/self-pay patients
• DrHouse visits have transparent pricing upfront
• Does not apply to most standard telehealth visits

Does It Apply to Telemedicine?

When It Can Apply

The No Surprises Act can apply to telemedicine when:

• The telehealth service is considered a covered medical service
• The patient is uninsured or chooses self-pay
• The provider is required to give a Good Faith Estimate before the visit

In these cases, telehealth providers may need to disclose expected costs in advance.

When It May Not Apply

The law does not always apply to telemedicine, especially when:

• The visit is fully covered by insurance with known pricing (e.g., fixed copay)
• There is no out-of-network billing scenario
• The service falls outside the categories regulated by the Act

No Surprises Act and DrHouse

DrHouse follows a transparent pricing model, which means you’ll see the cost of your visit before you book.

• Visits are typically a known insurance copay or a flat self-pay fee
• There are no unexpected out-of-network charges during the visit
• Pricing is shown upfront, so you know what to expect

Because of this, situations the No Surprises Act is designed to protect against are generally not applicable to DrHouse visits.