05.15.2019 / Press Release

Statement: Energy and Commerce Committee‘s Draft Legislation Will Provide Critical Protection for Consumers from Surprise Medical Bills

Washington, D.C. – Families USA released the following statement regarding the Energy and Commerce Committee’s draft legislation on surprise medical bills.

Families USA commends the Energy and Commerce Committee on the release of bipartisan draft legislation to protect consumers from surprise medical bills.

Surprise medical bills—occurring when individuals receive care from an out-of-network provider due to no fault of their own—can amount to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in medical costs that consumers are unprepared to pay. They happen despite families enrolling in health insurance, paying their premiums and doing their due diligence to work within the health care system. This can cause families unnecessary financial turmoil.

Draft legislation from the Energy and Commerce committee upholds two important principles: 1) it holds consumers harmless from surprise medical bills that they receive due to no fault of their own, and 2) it sets up a payment mechanism between insurers and out-of-network providers that holds down overall costs.

In a polarized Congress, surprise billing legislation represents a rare opportunity for lawmakers to deliver relief to families in a bipartisan fashion. While special interests hope to scuttle this effort, Families USA looks forward to continuing to work with the committee and the full Congress on legislation to protect consumers from surprise bills. Families cannot wait any longer for a solution to this urgent problem.

-30-