Health Affairs June 5, 2019
Bipartisanship is in the air in Washington, D.C. Well, at least on one issue that has frequently made the news over the past several years: surprise, or balance, billing. Driven by devastating stories in the popular press, a slew of proposals have been introduced in Congress over the past year. While diverse in their approaches, all of the proposals seek to increase consumer protections and shield patients from unexpected and often outsized bills. President Donald Trump has expressed his support for these efforts. Without a doubt, federal action on the issue is long overdue.
Yet, ultimate success seems far from certain, as jousting among competing stakeholders has replaced the usual partisan quarrels in D.C. Moreover, while surprise billing has unquestionably...