Compromise on surprise medical bills is coming, congressional staff say

• A compromise over determining how surprise-bill legislation will pay providers is nearing, congressional staff say.
• The compromise likely will involve financial costs for providers and health plans.
• Enactment is expected by May 22.

Despite a sharp divide in Congress over how to determine payments in legislation to protect patients from surprise bills, a compromise measure ending the billing practice that is likely to fully satisfy neither hospitals nor health plans is expected to pass, according to staff for some key legislators.

Members of Congress have split among competing proposals to address surprise healthcare bills. Among the leading measures:

• A House Education and Labor bill would allow health plans to decide...