The No Surprises Act has reshaped how healthcare providers resolve payment disputes with insurers, introducing a new level of structure, oversight, and complexity into reimbursement workflows. While the law’s primary goal is to protect patients from unexpected medical bills, it also created a formal arbitration process that providers must understand to recover fair payment. Few professionals are as well positioned to explain this process as former attorney and lawyer Brian Kent, a healthcare strategist focused on revenue integrity and operational performance.
As President and Principal of Ardú Partners, Brian Kent helps healthcare organizations navigate No Surprise Act Arbitrations strategically—balancing financial recovery with regulatory compliance in an increasingly demanding payer environment.
What the No Surprises Act Changed for Providers
Before the No Surprises Act, payment disputes between out-of-network providers and insurers were often resolved through informal negotiations or prolonged legal action. The Act replaced much of that uncertainty with a standardized framework designed to remove patients from billing conflicts while offering providers a defined path to dispute resolution.
At the center of this framework is Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR), a binding arbitration process that determines final payment amounts for certain out-of-network services. While IDR offers structure and transparency, it also requires careful preparation, data integrity, and regulatory awareness—areas where many providers face challenges.
According to Brian Kent, understanding how IDR fits into broader revenue strategy is essential for providers seeking predictable and defensible outcomes.
The Role of IDR in No Surprise Act Arbitrations
The IDR process operates as a “final offer” arbitration. Both the provider and the insurer submit a proposed payment amount, and a certified arbitrator selects one of the two offers based on statutory criteria. This approach encourages reasoned positioning rather than extreme demands.
However, the process is not purely mechanical. Arbitrators evaluate context, including reimbursement benchmarks, historical payment behavior, and operational factors. Without a coherent narrative supported by credible data, even valid claims may fail to achieve optimal results.
This is where former attorney and lawyer Brian Kent brings particular value. His legal background allows him to approach IDR as a structured argument rather than a billing exercise, ensuring submissions are defensible, consistent, and aligned with regulatory expectations.
Strategic Case Selection Matters
One of the most common mistakes providers make is attempting to arbitrate every disputed claim. Brian Kent emphasizes that not all cases are appropriate for No Surprise Act Arbitrations, and indiscriminate filing can strain resources while producing inconsistent results.
Through Ardú Partners, Brian helps organizations evaluate which claims warrant arbitration based on financial impact, documentation readiness, and payer behavior. This disciplined case selection increases efficiency and improves overall success rates in IDR proceedings.
By focusing on quality rather than quantity, providers can turn arbitration into a strategic tool rather than a reactive burden.
Preparing Defensible Arbitration Submissions
Winning IDR cases requires more than submitting reimbursement data. Arbitrators look for clarity, consistency, and justification. Brian Kent works with healthcare organizations to ensure that claims are supported by accurate benchmarking, clear operational context, and compliant documentation.
Because former attorney and lawyer Brian Kent understands how arbitrators assess evidence, he helps providers present their position in a way that aligns with how decisions are actually made—not just how regulations are written.
This structured preparation reduces uncertainty and strengthens the credibility of each submission.
Beyond Arbitration: Improving Revenue Integrity
Brian Kent’s explanation of No Surprise Act Arbitrations extends beyond the arbitration itself. Many disputes originate from upstream operational issues, such as documentation gaps, workflow inefficiencies, or misaligned reimbursement expectations.
By identifying and addressing these underlying challenges, Brian helps providers improve both current IDR outcomes and long-term financial performance. This approach positions arbitration as part of a broader revenue integrity strategy rather than a standalone fix.
Healthcare organizations that adopt this mindset often see fewer disputes over time and more predictable reimbursement patterns.
Managing Risk in a Regulated Environment
The No Surprises Act introduced new compliance obligations alongside arbitration rights. Pursuing reimbursement without considering regulatory risk can expose providers to scrutiny and operational disruption.
Brian Kent’s legal training provides a critical advantage in evaluating both financial opportunity and compliance exposure. His work ensures that No Surprise Act Arbitrations are pursued in a way that aligns with regulatory requirements while protecting organizational stability.
This balance is essential for providers operating in today’s highly regulated healthcare landscape.
Experience and Analytical Credibility
Brian Kent’s career reflects a strong foundation in analytical leadership. Early in his legal career, he was named one of only 35 attorneys in Pennsylvania recognized as a “Lawyer on the Fast Track.” He was also repeatedly selected as one of the Top 100 lawyers in both Philadelphia and Pennsylvania by Super Lawyers magazine.
He holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law and has served as an adjunct professor at Temple University and Drexel University’s Kline School of Law. This background supports his ability to explain complex regulatory systems in practical, operational terms.
A Clearer Path Forward for Providers
As healthcare reimbursement continues to evolve, providers must engage arbitration strategically to protect margins and ensure sustainability. The IDR process under the No Surprises Act offers a structured opportunity for fair payment—but only when approached with discipline and insight.
Through Ardú Partners, former attorney and lawyer Brian Kent helps healthcare organizations understand and navigate No Surprise Act Arbitrations with clarity, confidence, and purpose. His explanation of the process emphasizes preparation, selectivity, and operational alignment—key factors in turning arbitration into a reliable component of modern healthcare revenue strategy.
