California Surprise-Billing Law Protects Patients But Aggravates Many Doctors | Kaiser Health News

California Surprise-Billing Law Protects Patients But Aggravates Many Doctors | Kaiser Health News: A California law, which took effect in July 2017, protects consumers who use an in-network hospital or other facility from surprise bills when cared for by an out-of-network doctor. But physicians say the law has allowed insurers to shrink networks, limiting access to those doctors who have contracted with the patients’ insurance plans.