Stakeholders’ Comments On E&C Surprise Billing Draft Proposal Set Up Fight

The House Energy & Commerce Committee’s draft proposal to curb surprise billing has spurred sharp divisions between hospitals and insurers as did the Senate’s first stab at legislation several months ago. Hospital groups are fighting the committee's proposed payment rate and are pushing for a baseball-style arbitration process, while insurers are praising the set benchmark payment rate tied to the median in-network rate for that geographic area. Committee Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and ranking Republican Greg Walden (OR) on May...