A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is titled the Lower Premiums, Faster Payments Act. It amends the Public Health Service Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The legislation makes adjustments to surprise medical billing requirements for private health insurance. Specifically, it eliminates the independent dispute resolution process for services furnished on or after January 1, 2028. It also adjusts how the qualifying payment amount is calculated for items and services starting in 2028. Additionally, the bill mandates annual audits and requires findings to be made publicly available.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The legislation requires annual audit reports and their findings to be made publicly available starting in 2028.
- Scored +3
Does this lower what people pay for private health insurance?
The legislation adjusts surprise medical billing requirements and qualifying payment calculations aimed at reducing health insurance premiums.
- Scored +2
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill updates surprise medical billing regulations and requires public availability of audit findings on claims data.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill eliminates the independent dispute resolution process for certain medical services and bars judicial review of the qualifying payment amount methodology.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Publicly Available Audit Findings: Section 2(a)(2)(C) (and corresponding sections for other acts) requires that starting for 2028, the government shall make the reports and findings of annual audits publicly available. This provides transparency for the people regarding health plan claims data.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Elimination of Dispute Resolution: Section 2(a)(1) (and corresponding sections) eliminates the independent dispute resolution process for medical services furnished on or after January 1, 2028. This removes a specific dispute avenue for certain billing disagreements.
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Bar on Judicial Review: Section 2(a)(2)(B) (and corresponding sections) adds a provision stating there shall be no judicial review of the methodology for determining the qualifying payment amount. Individuals or groups cannot challenge this specific methodology in court.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in middle age be better off under this? — The adjustments to private health insurance surprise billing rules aim to lower premiums for insured individuals. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill aims to lower private health insurance premiums through adjustments to surprise medical billing frameworks. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The adjustments to private health insurance surprise billing rules aim to lower premiums for insured individuals. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The private health insurance billing adjustments apply broadly to individuals with commercial coverage.
- Healthcare
- Does this lower what people pay for private health insurance? — The legislation adjusts surprise medical billing requirements and qualifying payment calculations aimed at reducing health insurance premiums.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill updates surprise medical billing regulations and requires public availability of audit findings on claims data.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation requires annual audit reports and their findings to be made publicly available starting in 2028. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill mandates federal rulemaking and annual audits while barring judicial review of the qualifying payment amount methodology. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill eliminates the independent dispute resolution process for certain medical services and bars judicial review of the qualifying payment amount methodology.
- 10/9/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House