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Larson Votes to Protect Patients

February 13, 2020

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted to report the Consumer Protection Against Surprise Medical Bills Act (H.R. 5826), which includes transparency legislation Larson authored.

Larson remarks can be viewed here.

"I am glad that this critical legislation to put patients first is advancing. Right now, patients can get surprise, exorbitant medical bills after receiving emergency care or having a procedure, if a hospital or a doctor is out of their insurance network. This is wrong and unfair! This legislation will ensure patients are protected by taking the patient out of the middle and preventing these surprise bills. It also includes important consumer protections and transparency requirements, like advanced notification of costs and network status, and my bill to ensure health care provider directories are up to date when people are searching for care in their insurance network. As this legislation moves forward in the House, I will work to ensure patients are put first and foremost," said Larson.

This patient-first legislation would require:

  • Insurers and providers to resolve surprise billing claims, holding patients harmless.
  • An Advance Explanation of Benefits when requested by the patient or when services are scheduled more than three days in advance.
  • An accurate provider directory by health plans for consumers to consider when researching providers.
  • More information on insurance cards including the nearest participating hospital, consumer assistance contact information, deductibles, and other cost-sharing details.
  • Health plans to provide price comparison tools for consumers.

Larson's statement on the bill's introduction can be found here.

Last week, Larson introduced H.R. 5807, which would require health care insurers to provide 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 H.R. 5826.

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Issues:Health Care