Answers
Plain answers on the qualifying payment amount, the benchmark rate the No Surprises Act uses for out-of-network claims. Every page leads with the answer, cites the IRS notice or regulation behind each number, and reproduces factors exactly to 10 decimal places.
QPA indexing factors 2022 to 2026: the complete IRS table
Every annual and combined CPI-U factor, with its source notice from IRS Notice 2022-11 through IRS Notice 2025-65, the compounding arithmetic written out, and one worked example per base year.
Read the tableHow the QPA is calculated: 45 CFR 149.140 in plain language
The median contracted rate, same or similar service, insurance markets, geographic regions, self-insured plan rules, eligible databases for new plans, and the Medicare ratio method for new codes.
Read the guideQPA vs billed charges vs Medicare vs IDR awards
Payers anchor offers at the QPA: the median payer offer in the federal public use files is 1.0 times it. The median decided award is 4.7 times it. What that gap means for out-of-network providers.
Read the comparisonTo apply the factors to your own number, use the QPA calculator. For the arbitration side of the ledger, the full federal IDR record is explorable at idrexplorer.com and award estimates live at idrcalculator.com.
Want someone to run the disputes for you?
Lido IDR files and manages No Surprises Act arbitration for out-of-network providers, for a flat fee per arbitration.