"The No Surprises Act was designed to protect patients, not to create a new revenue strategy for providers," said Scott Bennett, Chief Provider Relations Officer at The Phia Group, a health care cost-containment firm.

Efforts to get the drug cheaply will give U.S. workers a reason to surge into Canada.

Rising employer coverage premiums slashed growth in workers' paychecks, New York Fed economists say.

"Without a structured approach, internal teams are increasing their volume, but if every message carries a sense of urgency, employees begin to tune out rather than listen closer," said William F. Ziebell, global CEO of Gallagher's Benefits and HR Consulting Division.