1. Lobbying group Physicians for Fair Coverage spent $4.1 million this summer on a campaign against legislation that would stop surprise out-of-network medical bills. Read more about the lobbying effort here.
2. John Fox, president and CEO of Southfield, Mich.-based Beaumont Health and chairman of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association Board of Trustees, wrote an op-ed for Crain’s Detroit Business, arguing that lawmakers should ban surprise billing, but the federal government should not control the prices negotiated by providers and insurers. Read more about his comments here.
3. U.S. House Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, rejected a House Ways and Means Committee leader’s proposed path forward on legislation to address surprise medical bills. Read more about the decision here.
4. During a speech at the Medical Group Management Association’s annual meeting in New Orleans, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD, R-La., said he thinks federal surprise-billing legislation will pass Congress by the end of 2019. Read more about the senator’s comments here.
5. Months before it takes effect, Texas’ new surprise-billing law faces an obstacle as supporters worry about an exception in the legislation, according to the Houston Chronicle. Read more about the state’s law here.
6. Two physician lawmakers revealed Sept. 30 that they are proposing new legislation aimed at improving the accuracy of information in health plan provider directories and stopping surprise out-of-network medical bills. Read more about the effort here.
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