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Following Schakowsky-led Letter, HHS Issues Rule to Ban Surprise Billing

October 4, 2021

EVANSTON – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, issued a statement in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issuing an interim final rule implementing legislation the Members passed to ban surprise billing—a practice that leaves patients on the hook for unexpected, exorbitant health care bills for out-of-network care.

"Congress wrote and passed the No Surprises Act to protect patients from unexpected, sky-high medical bills," said Schakowsky. "This is about protecting patients and consumers and implementing the No Surprises Act just as Congress intended. I am pleased to see the Biden Administration issue a rule that will do just that."

In August, Congresswoman Schakowsky led a letter, cosigned by several Members of Congress, expressing concern about potential regulatory gaps that could result in surprise bills for patients, and that expanded arbitration considerations could place undue harm and financial burdens on consumers. The full letter is linked HERE.

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