Trump has made health care a top political issue, starting with his efforts to dismantle Obamacare, and lately has focused on high drug prices.
The President on Thursday is sending a set of principles to Congress that aims to end patients' responsibility for big charges when they unknowingly are treated by out-of-network doctors or hospitals, often in an emergency situation.
The goal is to make sure that consumers who go to an emergency room would only pay what they would if they went to in-network providers, letting insurers and health care professionals work out the remaining payment, Joe Grogran, director of the Domestic Policy Council, told reporters Thursday.
In the case of elective surgery, patients would have to be told in advance and given a written estimate that details any out-of-network providers and charges.
Just what the President can accomplish, however, is unclear. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are trying to address the problem, but have been stymied by health care industry groups who shift the blame and responsibility for the matter.
State officials have also passed laws to protect consumers, but they don't have authority over many insurance plans offered by large employers, which cover nearly half of Americans. These policies are regulated on the federal level.
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