Another Surprise Billing Plan

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman, Richard Neal (D-MA), has released a proposed plan that will not hold patients responsible for surprise bills; however, to create a process for how much providers will be paid, the plan proposes a "negotiated rulemaking" process put together by a Commission that will include the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury as well as various industry stakeholders. In a letter to Democrats on the committee detailing the plan, Neal points to the success of clinical lab fee schedule and the durable medical equipment competitive bidding process, both of which providers argue inadequately pay and limit supplies in rural areas. The overall framework would be left up to federal agencies to identify rates for surprise bills, as opposed to bills already approved by two other House and Senate committees that either set rates by a regional out-of-network benchmark or allows for limited arbitration. To view the Chairman's letter, click here.

• Air ambulance services continue to be a major issue with surprise billing. Click here for an updated.
• Reps. Phil Roe (R-TN) and Kim Schrier (D-WA) introduced legislation last week to improve the accuracy of the information listed on health plans' provider directories to prevent patients from receiving surprise out-of-network bills, click here.