From Moms Rising (https://www.momsrising.org/):
For the first time ever, Congress has an opportunity to pass bipartisan legislation that will ban surprise medical bills, and would protect patients while holding down health care costs and premiums. [1] That’s right—bipartisan legislation that would have a huge positive impact for families across the country is within reach of passage.
**But dark money from provider groups is pouring into ad campaigns to stop it, so we need everyone to speak out to support this bipartisan legislation. [2]
Quick signature: Sign our petition to Congress at https://action.momsrising.org/sign/surprise-medical-bills-2019 telling them to pass legislation to ban surprise medical bills! *When you click, you’ll automatically sign on if we already have your information.
Bipartisan legislation that helps families? Yes, please! If there’s one thing you would think EVERYONE would agree on, it’s that NO ONE should get a surprise medical bill after receiving medical treatment. However, countless families have experienced receiving a surprise and crushing medical bill—oftentimes for tens of thousands of dollars—after receiving medical treatment. [3]
How do surprise medical bills happen? Most often, someone receives a surprise medical bill after receiving treatment from a provider who is out-of-network during emergency care or receiving care at an in-network facility by an out-of-network practitioner. [4] The Journal of the American Medical Association found that over 40% of emergency room visits end in patients getting out-of-network bills. [5] Forty percent! These bills can be catastrophic for some families, putting them at risk for financial ruin and bankruptcy.
Sign now: Tell Congress to pass strong legislation banning surprise medical bills. *When you click, you’ll automatically sign on if we already have your information.
Our petition reads:
As one of over a million members of MomsRising, I am asking you to pass strong legislation to ban surprise medical bills and protect millions of families from economic insecurity and stress.
Surprise medical bills most often occur when someone receives treatment from a provider who is out-of-network during emergency care or receives care at an in-network facility by an out-of-network practitioner. These surprise bills occur across the health care settings and can cause financial catastrophe for families.
We need strong legislation that protects consumers and applies to all providers, holds down costs for patients, and applies to all insurance plans. Please stand on the side of families and take action to protect patients from surprise medical bills by passing legislation to ban surprise medical bills!
Victory on surprise bills will require a sustained effort from people like you, holding our elected leaders accountable to the people, not industry. The more people who speak out, the bigger our impact. Please take a moment to forward our action link to your friends and family and share our action link on social media: https://action.momsrising.org/sign/surprise-medical-bills-2019/?t=8&akid=12913%2E2540879%2ExTYEND
Together we are a powerful voice for the health of families.
P.S. Tell us your health care story! Have you received a surprise medical bill or had other issues with affording care or coverage? Please share your experience with us: https://action.momsrising.org/survey/healthcare-stories_2019/?t=10&akid=12913%2E2540879%2ExTYEND
[1] Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Commentary: Surprise Billing Legislation Should Lower Consumer Costs and Federal Costs [2] New York Times, Mystery Solved: Private-Equity-Backed Firms Are Behind Ad Blitz on ‘Surprise Billing’ [3] Kaiser Health News, Bill Of The Month [4] Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker, An examination of surprise medical bills and proposals to protect consumers from them [5] Journal of the American Medical Association, Assessment of Out-of-Network Billing for Privately Insured Patients Receiving Care in In-Network Hospitals
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