"The No Surprises Act was designed to protect patients from unexpected medical bills, not to increase health care costs," Catherine Gaffigan, president of health solutions at Elevance Health, said in a statement.

Keith Sonderling has been acting Labor secretary since Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned in April.

Republican House members last week introduced a package of bills that would create a state hospital pricing board, limit hospital price increases, restrict health care consolidation and prohibit certain physician non-compete agreements.