Key House and Senate health leaders reach deal to stop surprise medical bills

DposNews - December 9, 2019 - puck

Key House and Senate health care leaders in both parties reached a deal on Sunday on legislation to protect patients from surprise medical bills.

The deal between House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr.Frank Joseph PalloneKey House and Senate health leaders reach deal to stop surprise medical bills Overnight Health Care — Presented by Johnson & Johnson – House progressives may try to block vote on Pelosi drug bill | McConnell, Grassley at odds over Trump-backed drug pricing bill | Lawmakers close to deal on surprise medical bills Key negotiator says deal close on surprise medical bills legislation MORE (D-N.J.), Rep. Greg WaldenGregory (Greg) Paul WaldenKey House and Senate health leaders reach deal to stop surprise medical bills Overnight Health Care — Presented by Johnson & Johnson – House progressives may try to block vote on Pelosi drug bill | McConnell, Grassley at odds over Trump-backed drug pricing bill | Lawmakers close to deal on surprise medical bills Key negotiator says deal close on surprise medical bills legislation MORE (R-Ore.), the top Republican on that panel, and Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar AlexanderAndrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderKey House and Senate health leaders reach deal to stop surprise medical bills Here are the Senate Republicans who could vote to convict Trump Overnight Health Care — Presented by Johnson & Johnson – House progressives may try to block vote on Pelosi drug bill | McConnell, Grassley at odds over Trump-backed drug pricing bill | Lawmakers close to deal on surprise medical bills MORE (R-Tenn.) is a step forward for the effort, which is seen as a rare area of possible bipartisan action this year.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpLawmakers prep ahead of impeachment hearing Democrats gear up for high-stakes Judiciary hearing Warren says she made almost M from legal work over past three decades MORE has also called for action on the issue. The legislation would protect patients from getting hit with massive bills when they go to the emergency room and one of the doctors caring for them happens to be outside their insurance network.

“I do not think it is possible to write a bill that has broader agreement than this among Senate and House Democrats and Republicans on Americans’ number one financial concern: what they pay out of their own pockets for health care,” Alexander said in a statement.

The deal also includes other health care measures, such as an extension of funding for community health centers, raising the purchasing age for tobacco to 21 and drug pricing transparency measures.

Backers of the deal are hoping to include it in a must-pass government funding deal that faces a Dec. 20 deadline.

There are still obstacles, though. Congressional leadership has not yet signed on to the deal.

There are also still disagreements over the details of the surprise medical billing legislation, with doctors and hospitals lobbying hard on the issue and worried about cuts to their payments.

It was not yet clear on Sunday whether the lawmakers more aligned with doctors and hospitals would sign on to this deal.

Sen. Patty MurrayPatricia (Patty) Lynn MurrayKey House and Senate health leaders reach deal to stop surprise medical bills Overnight Health Care — Presented by Johnson & Johnson – House progressives may try to block vote on Pelosi drug bill | McConnell, Grassley at odds over Trump-backed drug pricing bill | Lawmakers close to deal on surprise medical bills Key negotiator says deal close on surprise medical bills legislation MORE (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Health Committee, also was not listed among the supporters of the deal.

“Senator Murray believes the overall agreement takes important steps forward on a number of issues impacting patients and families, and is working with some members of her caucus on concerns they still have,” said Helen Hare, a spokeswoman for Murray. “She didn’t want to sign onto a press release until those were worked through.”

Sens. Bill CassidyWilliam (Bill) Morgan CassidyKey House and Senate health leaders reach deal to stop surprise medical bills GOP senators unveil bill to expand ‘opportunity zone’ reporting requirements Lawmakers introduce bipartisan bill to allow new parents to advance tax credits MORE (R-La.), Maggie HassanMargaret (Maggie) HassanKey House and Senate health leaders reach deal to stop surprise medical bills Senators sound alarm on dangers of ransomware attacks after briefing Biden reveals four women he could pick as his running mate MORE (D-N.H.), and Michael BennetMichael Farrand BennetKey House and Senate health leaders reach deal to stop surprise medical bills Bloomberg on 2020 rivals blasting him for using his own money: ‘They had a chance to go out and make a lot of money’ Senators want FERC to protect critical infrastructure from Huawei threats MORE (D-Colo.), who had backed a rival bill more favored by doctors groups, released a statement sounding generally supportive of the deal but stopped short of fully endorsing it, saying “final details” needed to be worked out.

“As our discussions continue around the final details, we are encouraged that we’re one step closer to giving patients these vital protections,” the senators said. “Patients have waited long enough, and we remain hopeful that we can get this done by the end of the year.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellKey House and Senate health leaders reach deal to stop surprise medical bills Biden: ‘No party should have too much power’ Overnight Energy: Pelosi vows bold action to counter ‘existential’ climate threat | Trump jokes new light bulbs don’t make him look as good | ‘Forever chemicals’ measure pulled from defense bill MORE (R-Ky.) released a statement praising the inclusion of his legislation with Sen. Tim KaineTimothy (Tim) Michael KaineKey House and Senate health leaders reach deal to stop surprise medical bills ‘Granite Express’ flight to take staffers, journalists to NH after Iowa caucuses Overnight Health Care — Presented by Johnson & Johnson — Senate panel approves Trump FDA pick | Biden downplays Dem enthusiasm around ‘Medicare for All’ | Trump officials unveil program for free HIV prevention drugs for uninsured MORE (D-Va.) to raise the tobacco age to 21 but did not tip his hand on the other provisions.

“I’m pleased to see bipartisan, bicameral progress continues on solutions to address the teen vaping crisis, primarily through my legislation with Senator Kaine to increase the tobacco purchasing age to 21,” McConnell said. “I look forward to reviewing the details on this and the other policies included in the package announced today.”

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