WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott announced the Protecting Patients from Surprise Medical Bills Act (S.1266) to promote transparency in hospital billing and empower patients to fight against hospital price gouging. 

Senator Rick Scott said, “Healthcare in this country is too expensive. We have to find ways to drive down the costs for American families. One way to do that is to force hospitals to be more transparent in their medical billing. There is no reason patients should be surprised by unconscionable charges for simple procedures and every patient should know what the price will be up front. Services at the hospital should mirror a free market system. We must ensure that prices and quality outcomes are aligned so Americans receive the best care possible when they visit a healthcare facility.

“I fought for and signed similar legislation as Governor of Florida, and I am bringing a common sense idea to Washington to help all American families.”

The Protecting Patients from Surprise Medical Bills Act will protect over 100 million patients from paying unexpected bills for out-of-network services by:

• Ensuring patients cannot be charged more than in-network rates for emergency services and covered non-emergency services.  
• Removing the patient entirely from any billing disputes and requiring medical providers and health insurance plans to work out any disputed claims.
• Creating a voluntary binding arbitration process as an incentive for providers and insurers to quickly resolve any disputed claims.
• Requiring health plans to provide a list of in-network providers, updated each month, so consumers know where they can seek treatment.

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