Balance billing traps patients in fights between doctors, hospitals and insurers

A Sacramento Superior Court judge recently affirmed the authority of the state Department of Managed Health Care to deem balance billing an unfair practice. The California Medical Association, which sued to stop the regulation, says it will appeal. The California Supreme Court is also about to weigh in on the practice: It is expected to rule soon on a Southern California dispute between two medical groups that could partly answer the question of whether balance billing is legal.