The health care industry is not very happy with Congress' latest proposal on surprise medical bills, which also includes other provisions designed to lower health costs.
Driving the news: The bill, championed by Sen. Lamar Alexander and Reps. Frank Pallone and Greg Walden, cracks down on industry behavior that is often profitable at patients' expense.
What they're saying: Providers are complaining that arbitration can only be used to settle payment disputes over out-of-network bills over $750.
The other side: The Coalition Against Surprise Medical Billing, which includes employer groups and insurers, is complaining that arbitration is included at all.
- The generic drug industry also released a statement criticizing the bill's drug component.
- The White House released a statement of support, writing that "this compromise reflects the input of doctors and hospitals and is the result of months of delicate work to reach a deal among congressional members and the White House that protects patients."
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