1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Patients from Surprise Medical Bills Act . 2. Prohibition on surprise medical billing Subpart B of part 7 of title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1185 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 716. Prohibition on surprise medical billing (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Balance bill The term balance bill means the collection or attempted collection from a participant or beneficiary of any amount in excess of the applicable copayments, coinsurance, or deductible for services covered under the participant or beneficiary’s group health plan. (2) Emergency medical condition The term emergency medical condition means the condition described in section 2719A(b)(2)(A) of the Public Health Service Act. (3) Emergency services The term emergency services means the services described in section 2719A(b)(2)(B) of the Public Health Service Act. (4) Emergency services provider The term emergency services provider means a facility or facility-based provider that bills a participant or beneficiary for emergency services. (5) Facility The term facility means an entity providing health care services, as licensed or authorized by a State. (6) Facility-based provider The term facility-based provider means a physician, health care professional, or entity that has entered into an agreement with a facility to provide health care services to patients of that facility. (b) Emergency services (1) Prohibition on balance billing A self-insured group health plan shall be solely liable for making payments to an emergency services provider for emergency services covered under the plan that are provided to a participant or beneficiary, and such participant or beneficiary shall not be liable to the emergency services provider for any amount for such services other than the applicable copayment, coinsurance, or deductible amount required under the plan for covered emergency services. Emergency service providers shall not balance bill a