House panels to take up surprise billing proposals

Committees set to vote on plans the week of Feb. 9

Two House committees on Friday released proposals to curb surprise medical bills, setting up action soon on a potent political issue that frustrates consumers.

The Ways and Means Committee and the Education and Labor Committee plan to vote on their bills next week, following the Energy and Commerce Committee, which approved its own plan last year.

Protecting patients from surprise out-of-network medical bills is a goal for Democrats, Republicans and President Donald Trump, but reaching agreement has proven more difficult than many initially expected. Continue reading.