CHA Alert: Protect Patients and Private Negotiations, Oppose Rate Setting in Surprise Billing Legislation

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Action needed:

CHA encourages all hospital leaders to urge their representatives to protect patients and private negotiations while opposing a benchmark rate as a way to address surprise medical billing.

It is critical that hospital leaders reach out to their representatives to remind them:

Hospitals support protecting patients from out-of-network surprise emergency bills.
Benchmark rates will cause unnecessary, massive disruption of private health care markets.
Benchmark rates do not provide financial protections for patients.

To find your representative’s contact information, visit www.house.gov/representatives/find.

While CHA urges outreach to all representatives, special consideration should be given to members on the House Education and Labor Committee and House Ways and Means Committee. Contact information for California congressional members on these committees is below.

Timing:

Contact members of the House Education and Labor Committee by Feb. 10, and members of the House Ways and Means Committee by Feb. 11.

Background

Surprise billing continues to be a top priority in Congress, with lawmakers eager to strike a deal. Two House committees — Education and Labor, as well as Ways and Means — will mark up their proposed legislation (introduced today) on Feb. 11 and Feb. 12, respectively.

It is critical that hospital leaders reach out to their representatives, especially those on the committees, and urge them to protect patients and private negotiations while opposing rate setting as a way to address surprise medical billing.

Hospitals are committed first and foremost to protecting patients from unexpected bills for out-of-network emergency care. Establishing benchmark rates does nothing to protect patients and will create unnecessary and serious disruption to health care providers.

Earlier today, CHA sent a letter to the Ways and Means Committee supporting its efforts to protect patients, while avoiding a benchmark rate and preserving private negotiations between providers and payers.

Please see CHA’s talking points and infographic on surprise billing and benchmark rates for additional information.

California members of the House Education and Labor Committee:

Susan A. Davis (CA-53)

Washington, DC Office: (202) 225-2040

Health Staff: Brandon Mendoza brandon.mendoza@mail.house.gov

Mark Takano (CA-41)

Washington, DC Office: (202) 225-2305

Health Staff: Adrienne Castro adrienne.castro@mail.house.gov

Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11)

Washington, DC Office: (202) 225-2095

Health Staff: Ethan Van Ness ethan.vanness@mail.house.gov

Josh Harder (CA-10)