SB 1511 Neutral One-Pager – Expanding FSERs Without Guardrails Risks Patient Confusion and Abusive Billing
SB 1511 proposes to expand freestanding emergency rooms (FSERs) into non-emergency care—despite an ongoing pattern of misleading billing, inflated facility fees, and inappropriate patient inducements. FSERs were originally licensed to expand access in underserved areas, but instead, they’ve concentrated in wealthier communities and generated consumer harm, including $50,000 COVID tests and surprise medical bills. Read our SB 1511 one-pager to learn about how common-sense safeguards can protect patients from abusive billing practices, balance billing, and cost-sharing gamesmanship.
