WASHINGTON, D.C. | July 31, 2020
The 25 undersigned organizations, representing millions of patients and consumers across the country who face serious, acute, and chronic health conditions, applaud the administration and Congressional committee leaders for their call to enact legislation to end all surprise medical billing.
Yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services released the HHS Secretary’s Report on Addressing Surprise Billing, calling on Congress to enact surprise medical billing protections. The Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate HELP Committee, House Energy and Commerce Committee, and House Education and Labor Committee followed with a bipartisan, joint statement echoing this urgency and calling for action. Our organizations strongly agree.
The undersigned organizations have called on Congress repeatedly to take action on surprise medical billing, citing the devastating impact that unexpected medical bills have on our populations’ ability to maintain their health. Our volunteers have sent thousands of messages to lawmakers on this issue as well.
For many months, Congress has had major bipartisan legislation in hand that would comprehensively shield patients and consumers from surprise medical bills. However, it has yet to move this critical legislation forward. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 virus continues to impact providers and facilities across the country, forcing patients with chronic and serious conditions who require ongoing treatment to shift providers and/or facilities in some cases - increasing the likelihood that they will receive a surprise bill. Patients should not be subjected to surprise bills at any time, let alone during a public health crisis.
Now more than ever, patients need protection from surprise medical bills. We urge Congress to move quickly to include comprehensive protections for patients and consumers in the next legislative package to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Signed:
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American Heart Association
American Kidney Fund
American Liver Foundation
American Lung Association
CancerCare
Cancer Support Community
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Epilepsy Foundation
Hemophilia Federation of America
JDRF
Mended Hearts & Mended Little Hearts
Muscular Dystrophy Association
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Health Council
National Hemophilia Foundation
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Organization for Rare Disorders
National Patient Advocate Foundation
Pulmonary Hypertension Association
Susan G. Komen
The AIDS Institute
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease
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