Letters: No Surprises Act is not the solution patients and doctors hoped; Congressman's recent statement menacing, meaningless

As a physician in North Carolina, my life's mission has been to provide the highest level of care to my patients and community. This goal has become increasingly difficult as a federal law called the No Surprises Act (NSA), originally meant to protect both patients and doctors, now threatens the viability of rural health care across our country.

In 2020, a bipartisan coalition in Congress passed the NSA to establish a fair process for health insurers and physicians to work out payment disputes and remove patients from the middle. However, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has allowed large health insurers to underpay doctors, collect record profits, and leave patients to face insurance coverage denials.

These burdens are especially concerning for rural areas where emergency rooms are a safety net for uninsured patients. Since 2005, 181 rural hospitals have closed. North Carolina ranks third in rural hospital closures. If insurers refuse to reimburse doctors and hospitals for the care they provide, more communities will be left without access to the care.

As a physician himself, U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy knows firsthand how North Carolinians rely on rural health care. He has been a champion for doctors and patients, calling out HHS for twisting the law's original purpose.

In a recent House Ways & Means Committee hearing on the NSA, Murphy said, "We passed a very good law that had bipartisan, bicameral support, signed into law by the president, then the new administration … put everything [out the door]. It's a disgrace."

I want to thank Congressman Murphy for his advocacy for fair implementation of the NSA and urge him to continue fighting so this rule can be implemented as Congress originally intended.

Terence Kolb

Asheville

Kolb is an emergency medicine physician at Mission Hospital in Asheville.

Congressman's recent statement menacing, meaningless

This is your reminder that everything Greg Murphy states is either a lie or a projection. Sometimes, it is both.

"To win not only the small battles, but the greater war against the left's destruction of this nation," was his reason to vote against a resolution to continue funding the government.

Bush and Trump tax cuts saddled our nation's debt with $10 trillion. Sounds pretty destructive to me, since these cuts went to benefit only the very wealthy and corporations.

He reminds us that he is "at war" with "the left." This bellicose statement is menacing and meaningless.

My political views are to the left of our congressman, so I presume that he is at war with people like me. This comment has no place in our political discussion. Regarding the "destruction of this nation," look in the mirror, bub.

Let me remind him that it was people from his own tribe who wanted to hang Mike Pence on 1/6. Look how they turned on their own speaker!

Mark Taggart

Greenville