President Trump announced Thursday his administration is working with Congress on a comprehensive legislative package to outlaw crippling surprise medical bills.
The administration says it is aiming to increase transparency in health services billing. The president said that patients must be told ahead of treatment if a specialist, such as an anesthesiologist or radiologist, is out of their network. Patients should only be billed for out-of-network care if they consent to receiving treatment.
“These bills have ruined people’s lives,” Trump said at the White House.
Trump also said balance billing, the practice of billing patients for the portion of charges that insurance will not cover, will be outlawed for emergency care services. For non-emergency doctor visits, all service prices will be provided upfront, including out-of-pocket costs, eliminating surprise bills.
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The administration is calling for bipartisan legislation to eliminate surprise medical bills. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said while appearing alongside Trump that he would be bringing forward a bill in July.
Alexander’s press secretary told the Washington Examiner the senator plans to move legislation out of committee by the summer.
Trump told reporters that the administration will “announce something over the next two weeks.”
Administration officials said earlier Thursday that the White House has made this a priority and will continue to put pressure on Congress to pass legislation that is sure to receive opposition from interest groups.