A Congressional plan to tackle surprise medical bills is spurring a furious lobbying campaign and disagreements among Republican lawmakers that could make it difficult to pass the legislation this month, the Wall Street Journal reported. Measures protecting patients from high hospital bills from out-of-network doctors and other health providers has the backing of President Trump, who in May urged lawmakers to take action. Senate Health Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) is hoping the full Senate will vote this month on a plan that would address surprise bills, after his committee approved it in late June. But fault lines have emerged over the Senate proposal, centered on whether hospitals or doctors should take a financial hit and how to settle disputes. Legal hurdles also are cropping up. The challenges come as hospitals, doctors and other industry groups fiercely defend their turf. Getting a bill to Trump now appears uncertain despite rare bipartisan agreement on the need for a legislative fix. The bill from Mr. Alexander and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) also targets a host of health-care issues, from lack of information on pricing to prescription drugs. The Senate committee approved the measure June 26. A similar plan has also been put forth by House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders. House aides said that they were optimistic the proposal would advance through the committee this month.
