Surprise medical bills _ those unexpected and often pricey bills patients face when they get care from a doctor or hospital that isn't in their insurance network _ are the health care problem du jour in Washington, with congressional lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and the White House calling for action.
These policymakers agree on the need to take patients out of the middle of the fight over charges, but crafting a legislative solution will not be easy.
A hearing of the House Ways and Means health subcommittee Tuesday, for example, quickly devolved into finger-pointing as providers' and insurers' testimony showed how much they don't see eye to eye.
"I'm disappointed that all participants that are going to be here from critical sectors of our economy could not come to find a way to work together to protect patients from these huge surprise bills," Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., the ranking Republican on the subcommittee, said in his opening statement.
As Congress weighs how to address the problem, here's a guide to the bills and what to watch.
