EP271: A Surprise Billing Defense Strategy for Patients AND Employers in the Middle of a Pandemic, With Al Lewis, Rachel Miner, David Contorno, and Doug Aldeen

In this episode, Stacey Richter talks with Al Lewis of Quizzify, along with guests Rachel Miner of Thrive Benefits, David Contorno of E Powered Benefits, and health care attorney Doug Aldeen, about a surprise billing defense strategy for patients and employers in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

✅ Why surprise billing risk hasn't disappeared during the pandemic, even with CARES Act protections for COVID-19 patients

✅ How the Quizzify wallet card works as a surprise billing defense strategy for patients and employees

✅ Why self-insured employers and health plans, not just patients, can be on the hook for uncapped COVID-19 treatment costs

✅ What to do if a balance bill arrives despite using the wallet card

✅ Why advance preparation is the key to avoiding egregious ER bills

WHY THIS MATTERS

Al Lewis and his guests unpack a practical defense against surprise billing: a wallet card patients can present in the ER that sets terms in advance rather than signing an open-ended financial consent. The conversation traces how COVID-19 complicates the picture — the CARES Act protects patients who test positive, but uncovered costs can still land on self-insured employers and plans, and non-COVID emergencies haven't stopped happening. David Contorno, Rachel Miner, and Doug Aldeen add perspective on why employers should proactively distribute this protection and what recourse exists even after a balance bill shows up.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

🔗 EP249, with Dale Folwell

🔗 EP186, with David Contorno

=== LINKS ===

🔗 Show Notes with all mentioned links: Episode Page

🔗 Healthcare Industry Acronyms and Terms

✉️ Enjoy this podcast? Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter

🫙 Support the podcast with a small donation to the Tip Jar

📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel

🎤 Listen on Apple Podcasts

🎤 Listen on Spotify

=== CONNECT WITH THE RHV TEAM ===

✭ LinkedIn ✭ Threads ✭ Bluesky ✭ X

00:00 Introduction.

04:26 What is the likelihood of a surprise bill in the time of coronavirus?

07:41 What the surprise billing wallet card looks like and what it does when you use it.

09:55 Rachel Miner's experience with the Quizzify surprise billing wallet card.

14:42 EP249 with Dale Folwell.

15:33 Should employers be advocating for the use of the Quizzify wallet card?

16:22 How an employer should get the wallet card out to their employees.

17:29 David Contorno explains the inspiration behind the Quizzify wallet card.

19:29 "Because of that federal law, you do not need to sign that financial consent."—David

19:42 "Don't obligate yourself financially to some unknown amount."—David

19:56 The legal standard: a battlefield consent.

21:18 Negotiating vs not negotiating.

22:38 Why employers should care about surprise billing.

22:58 Best practices for employers educating employees on why this wallet card is important.

24:19 "This is not something your employer is doing to you; this is something your employer is doing for you."—David

24:25 EP186 with David Contorno.

27:19 Doug Aldeen on what happens after using the wallet card and then gets the balance bill.

30:47 What happens after you sign the financial contract after editing.

32:01 Asking for the director of revenue cycle management after getting your surprise bill.

36:36 "It's not as daunting as people think."—Doug

36:56 "The general rule … is that the more you do in advance, the better."—Al

37:49 Why 2x Medicare is the sweet spot for reasonable price.

38:38 What employers should be doing right now to distribute these Quizzify wallet cards.