Articles and Blogs

It is no surprise that state and federal legislators are taking action to address the issue of unexpected medical bills, otherwise known in the health care industry as “surprise billing.” Surprise billing generally occurs when a patient receives care at an out-of-network facility (often emergency care) or from an out-of-network provider at an in-network... READ MORE

Senate Finance Committee Releases Drug Pricing Reform Package On July 25, the Senate Finance Committee advanced their comprehensive Medicare and Medicaid drug payment reform legislation. The bill now heads to the full Senate floor. A day earlier, Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) and ranking member Ron Wyden (D-OR) released the text of the chairman’s mark... READ MORE

Surprise Billing Debate Continues: Legislation Passes House E&C Committee The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation (H.R. 2328) to protect patients from surprise medical bills. The measure would block providers from charging out-of-network rates to patients in certain emergency situations or when a patient unexpectedly receives out-of-network care at an in-network facility and... READ MORE

House Subcommittee Passes Surprise Billing Measure Despite Member Disagreement On Thursday, the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee approved 10 bills, including a measure addressing surprise medical billing. The “No Surprises Act” (H.R. 3630), introduced by Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR), would prohibit surprise billing and limit... READ MORE

Senate Committee Advances Major Health Legislative Package The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (“HELP”) Committee passed a wide-ranging bill focusing on lowering health care costs to the chamber’s floor. This legislation is one of the only major health care bills that stands a chance at passing Congress this year. The measure aims to... READ MORE

Senate Health Committee Releases Sweeping Health Cost Legislation On June 18, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (“HELP”) Committee released bipartisan legislation designed to address the cost of health care bipartisan health cost legislation after collecting extensive stakeholder feedback. The Committee will mark up this legislation next week on June 26. There are... READ MORE

Energy and Commerce Examines Surprise Medical Billing On June 12, the House Energy and Commerce health subcommittee held a legislative hearing on surprise medical bills as Congress continues tackling the issue on how best to resolve payment disputes between providers and health plans. There is broad agreement to pass legislation addressing surprise medical bills,... READ MORE

Ways and Means Subcommittee Explores Modernizing Stark Law On July 17, the House Ways and Means Committee Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on modernizing the Stark Law. Government and industry witnesses shared concerns about the inhibiting effect of the Stark Law on innovative payment models and value-based care. Subcommittee Chairman Peter Roskam (R-IL)... READ MORE

Senate, House Health Committees Examine GME Program On May 22, the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (“HELP”) Committee held a hearing on the graduate medical education (“GME”) program. Republican members raised concerns over the current GME program, alleging there are inequities in the distribution of residency slots and asking whether training should be... READ MORE

Senate Continues Efforts to Tackle Substance Abuse Crisis The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to address opioid and substance abuse disorders in Medicare, Medicaid and other HHS-related programs. The hearing addressed how the programs can adapt and be improved to address the crisis, as well as what the Trump administration and Congress can... READ MORE