AHIP Submits Statement For Congressional Hearing On Surprise Medical Bills
posted by AHIP
on April 2, 2019
On April 2, 2019, AHIP submitted a statement for a hearing in the House Education and Labor Committee on surprise medical bills and our members’ commitment to finding solutions to alleviate the financial burdens imposed on patients by this problem.
Surprise medical bills are a major national problem affecting at least one in five Americans annually. These bills—for unjustifiably high prices for medical treatment—create tremendous financial burdens for families and can even lead to bankruptcy. In addition, the inflated prices typically lead to health insurance providers and employers paying far more than negotiated rates for care, which increases premiums for everyone. Federal legislation is needed to end this practice and protect patients.
Our statement focuses on the following:
- Why people receive surprise medical bills and how this impacts hardworking Americans;
- Principles and legislative recommendations for protecting patients from surprise medical bills; and
- The importance of developing and maintaining strong provider networks to achieve lower costs and high quality care for patients.
