Washington, DC – The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) appreciates lawmakers’ efforts to take steps to end the predatory practice of surprise medical bills; however, surprise medical billing should not advance without adding meaningful and complementary health care transparency measures.
ERIC calls on lawmakers to add to surprise medical billing relief three additional provisions that will make the difference for employers and patients: (1) Ban gag clauses that providers use to hide information from patients and employers, (2) require transparency for employers on prescription drug costs, and (3) eliminate abusive hospital contracts that trap patients in poor-performing hospitals.
If these three provisions are included, Congress should swiftly act to pass the No Surprises Act and end surprise billing forever.