WASHINGTON, D.C.—In response to the ongoing surprise billing debate, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has issued the following statement: 

"ACEP does not support and is against practices by any meant to manipulate or exploit our patients who seek emergency care. We have always and will continue to strongly support reasonable and fair legislation that will end balance billing and bring appropriate transparency and improvements in the system that expand access to care and strengthen the physician/patient relationship.

Patients are the number one priority of emergency physicians as we provide care to them 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year, and ACEP's mission is to support these physicians, patients, and the highest quality care possible."