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Larson Joins Ways and Means Committee in Introducing Bills to Put Patients First, End Surprise Billing

February 11, 2020

Washington, D.C. – Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) joined the Ways and Means Committee in introducing legislation, H.R. 5825, H.R. 5826, and H.R. 5821, to end surprise medical bills, that also includes transparency legislation authored by Larson.

"For years, patients have been sent surprise medical bills for emergency room visits, often for thousands of dollars, when they receive care outside of their insurance network unbeknownst to them. This is unfair and wrong. This bipartisan legislation will end this harmful practice and put patients first. People seeking emergency care shouldn't have to worry about walking out of the hospital with medical debt," said Larson. "This legislation adds several consumer measures including a requirement for accurate and up-to-date in-network provider directories and notice and consent for patients when a provider is out-of-network. Health plans will also be required to provide good-faith cost estimates and the network status of providers for all services scheduled three-days in advance or when it is requested by the patient. I'm proud that the Ways and Means Committee was able to work together on this bipartisan legislation."

Last week, Larson introduced H.R. 5807, which would require health care insurers to an accurate and up-to-date "Provider Directory" database containing a list of all health care providers and facilities that are in an insurance plan's network. H.R. 5807 is included in the larger legislative package.

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Issues:Health Care