These bills provide protection for patients, who are already dealing with the anxiety that comes with a medical condition, from complicated billing that could threaten to drain their life savings or cause them to lose their home.

Dear Senator Scott and Congressman Spano:

On behalf of the more than 2 million members of AMAC – the Association of Mature American Citizens, I write to express our support for S. 1266, the Protecting Patients fromSurprise Medical Bills Act and its companion, H.R. 4223.

The cost of health care continues to be a source of great concern for AMAC members and all Americans. It seems that everyone either has personal experience or knows family members or neighbors who needed care and then were blindsided by numerous, shockingly high medical bills, even though they had health insurance.

S.1266 and its companion would outlaw balance billing for patients covered by ERISA (theEmployee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) healthcare plans for all emergency services,and for any non-emergency services provided by an out-of-network provider at an in-networkhospital where the patient was given no opportunity to select an in-network provider. These billsprovide protection for patients, who are already dealing with the anxiety that comes with a medicalcondition, from complicated billing that could threaten to drain their life savings or cause them tolose their home.

AMAC supports the transparency that is at the heart of these bills and other health care reform initiatives. We are grateful for the work done on behalf of our members by Senator Scott and Congressman Spano and are pleased to offer our full support for S.1266, the Protecting Patientsfrom Surprise Medical Bills and its companion H.R. 4223.

Sincerely,
Bob Carlstrom
President, AMAC Action