Underwood Supports Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Illinois Families and End Surprise Medical Bills

WASHINGTON— Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) released the following statement on the Education and Labor Committee's passage of the Ban Surprise Billing Act (H.R. 5800). The legislation is a bipartisan proposal to protect patients from devastating surprise medical bills.

"When Illinois families go to the doctor or emergency room for care, they should not have to fear the looming threat of receiving a surprise medical bill. These unexpected expenses can total tens of thousands of dollars, which are crushing to patients and their families," said Underwood. "The Ban Surprise Billing Act puts patients first by enacting comprehensive consumer protections to shield patients from unexpected out-of-pocket health care costs. This bill is a strong step forward that will protect Illinois families."

The Ban Surprise Billing Act would:

• Protects patients from receiving surprise bills by limiting cost-sharing to their plan's in-network rate and prohibiting out-of-network providers from sending balance bills that exceed the in-network rate;
• Protects air ambulance patients and takes steps to address ground ambulance surprise bills;
• Improves consumer access to information regarding expected cost-sharing; and,
• Improves transparency regarding in-network and out-of-network deductibles and out-of-pocket limitations.

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