We Can't Afford a Divisive Surprise in this New Relief Bill

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 3, 2020

+1 (202) 823-2333

media@action4health.org

WASHINGTON — Today, Action for Health is warning lawmakers — especially those in leadership and who serve on the Senate HELP, House Ways and Means, and House Energy and Commerce Committees — that the forthcoming relief package is the absolute worst place to address surprise medical bills.

Sneaking in the wrong "fix" to these bills, such as the use of benchmarking and price controls or an independent dispute resolution (IDR) process that focuses on in-network median payment rates, will:

  • Socialize our healthcare system, leading to restrictions in patient care and higher costs and premiums;

  • Devastate our nation's physicians and healthcare heroes who are risking their lives daily fighting Covid-19; and

  • Further enrich health insurance companies that are already recording record profits during the pandemic.

Action for Health President Christopher Sheeron issued the following statement:

"This is a very complex issue, and it simply cannot be airdropped into this relief package at the 11th hour. There will be a tidal wave of negative and unintended consequences if we don't get this right. Our most vulnerable patient populations, those communities of color who are suffering most from Covid-19, would face irreparable harm. And should Congress tuck a faulty fix to surprise medical bills into this legislation, it will be the end of private medical practice in this country as we know it. Now is certainly not the time to upend our entire healthcare system.

Leader McConnell should be lauded for insisting that this bill be solely focused on the pressing and much bigger issues at hand: relief for patients and their medical providers, jobs and economic recovery, and the reopening of schools. That said, Republicans in Congress love to talk about the threat of a socialist takeover of our healthcare system. Well, now is the time for them to step up and make sure that doesn't happen."

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Action for Health, a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, is a diverse group of patient advocates dedicated to eliminating surprise medical bills the right way. Representing more than 10 million patients nationwide, the organization educates policymakers, the media, and concerned citizens about solutions to address this critical healthcare issue.