The American College of Radiology (ACR) is lauding the U.S. House of Representatives for the introduction of bipartisan legislation that addresses "surprise" medical bills.
The Protecting People From Surprise Medical Bills Act is sponsored by Reps. Dr. Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Dr. Phil Roe (R-TN), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Van Taylor (R-TX), Dr. Ami Bera (D-CA), Dr. Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Donna Shalala (D-FL), and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), according to a statement released by Rep. Ruiz. It addresses the impact of unanticipated medical bills on patient out-of-pocket costs and the patient-physician relationship, the ACR said.
![Axial images from unenhanced calcium score cardiac CT (left) and curved planar reformation images from CT angiography (right) show that higher long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with greater coronary artery calcium and more obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Top row: Images in a 68-year-old male patient with higher 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (7.9 μg/m3 for particulate matter measuring ≤2.5 μm in diameter [PM2.5] and 17.4 parts per billion [ppb] for NO2) with extensive CAD (coronary artery calcium score [CACS] >1,000 and obstructive CAD [≥70% diameter stenosis]). Bottom row: Images in a 57-year-old female patient with lower 10-year mean ambient air pollution exposure (6.3 μg/m3 for PM2.5 and 4.6 ppb for NO2) with no CAD (CACS = 0 and no obstructive stenosis).](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/06/hanneman.r6SMLzkezo.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
