House Committee Strikes 11th-Hour Deal on Surprise Billing

Politico Pro has learned that the House Energy and Commerce Committee is planning a last-minute change to its legislation limiting "surprise" medical bills. The move comes after committee members struck a deal to win over skeptical members concerned the proposal would be too harsh on providers. The committee has privately agreed to alter how the bill governs payment disputes between providers and health plans, according to four Politico Pro sources briefed on the deal. The legislation aims to set a benchmark rate for resolving payment disputes. Under the change, it would now let providers appeal to an arbiter in certain cases. The agreement follows some intense negotiations within the committee over the surprise billing legislation, known as H.R. 3630. The committee is expected to accept the amendment, smoothing the legislation's path to the House floor.