Push targeted bills that close key gaps like ground ambulances and medical debt relief.
Pass targeted legislative fixes that close the biggest remaining gaps, including ground ambulance billing and durable medical-debt protections. Build bipartisan support using the advisory committee recommendations and the practical implementation problems already visible under the No Surprises Act. Legislative clarity matters because it can lock in protections that agencies cannot fully deliver on their own.
Why this works
- There is bipartisan interest in ground ambulances; the advisory committee’s consensus gives cover.
- A bill to extend protections to ambulances could possibly pass if packaged well (since it was left out only because it was hard, but now there’s model solutions like states regulating rates).
- Congress could also pass the Medical Debt Relief Act (which would codify credit reporting ban for medical debt and possibly go further like ensuring VA or CMS identifies and forgives certain debts).
- That might get some bipartisan support as veterans’ groups and others approve.
- Another idea: amend the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to classify certain aggressive medical debt collection as abusive, or even to erase medical debt after a certain time.
- Legislation could also support hospital compliance by requiring clear notice of financial assistance on all bills (some states do that, Congress could replicate).
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
AdvocacyCoalition driving civil rights progress
Mechanism
About LobbyingHow The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights uses funding
- Translate the ground-ambulance gap and dispute pain points into a tight legislative package with clear bill language
- Use advisory committee recommendations and bipartisan interest to recruit credible sponsors
- Build a coalition of patient, consumer, and health-system stakeholders to provide public cover and technical input
- Meet with committees and leadership to secure hearings, markups, and a realistic path to passage
- Push for inclusion in must-move vehicles when standalone bills stall
- Coordinate with implementing agencies so statutory changes are executable and reduce confusion
Milestones
Checkpoints and the expected timing for each step
- 1
Draft targeted legislative language
Near-termBill text reflects advisory committee recommendations and implementation gaps
- 2
Secure bipartisan sponsors and endorsements
Near-termSponsors announce the package with visible cross-party support
- 3
Committee action begins
Mid-termHearings or markups are scheduled and amendments are negotiated
- 4
Move through a must-pass vehicle
Mid-termLanguage is attached to a moving bill or reaches floor action
- 5
Enactment and implementation guidance
Longer-termSigned changes translate into updated rules and plain guidance