Surprise billing: the U.S. needs better definitions

While Medicare-for-All might be grabbing headlines, the health care policy debate that could have a bigger impact on consumers in the near future could be surprise billing.

State and federal lawmakers are looking at the issue, President Trump has addressed it, a group of ER doctors released a proposal in D.C. and new legislative proposals are expected later this year.

There is bipartisan support to address this issue, but efforts are hindered by how complicated it is. “Surprise billing” is an overly broad term that applies to a dozen scenarios, which makes it difficult for consumers and policymakers alike to understand what, exactly, new regulations might do.