Ways and Means Releases 'Surprise' Bill Legislation

Politico Pro is reporting that the House Ways and Means Committee late last week released its long-expected rival legislation to end surprise medical bills, which gives physicians greater leeway to contest payments than competing proposals. The Ways and Means bill differs in that it ditches a benchmark for what insurers would have to pay for an unexpected out-of-network bill. Instead, the legislators want to leave the payment particulars for the doctors and insurers to work out via an open negotiation. An independent arbiter would only be summoned if there's no agreement within 30 days. The legislation is expected to result in a fierce battle on Capitol Hill. Hospital and doctors' groups have been pushing for a bill with a robust arbitration process, arguing that a federal benchmark payment would reduce their pay rates and give insurers too much leverage. Insurers contend that the benchmark approach is the only way to end surprise bills without adding to the system's already high costs. The Ways and Means legislation, which is being championed by Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) and ranking member Kevin Brady (R-Texas), breaks from a deal struck by bipartisan leaders of the House Energy and Commerce and Senate HELP Committees in late 2019. That plan, which allows arbitration in certain circumstances, relies on a federal benchmark payment.