A pair of bills receiving bi-partisan support would protect patients from so-called "balance-billing" -- when a patient receives an extra bill because someone involved in their medical care wasn't part of their health insurance network.

Matt Baker and Tina Pickett, has 31 co-sponsors including Democrats, according to the state insurance department, which has pushed for such protections.

who is head of the Senate insurance committee.

The bills would apply to situations where the patient unknowingly receives care from an out-of-network provider in both emergency and non-emergency situations.

gives several examples of people who received large bills in situations where it seemed logical that any care they received would be from a provider that was part of their network.

In one case, a State College resident was billed more than $2,000 for blood tests that were taken at an in-network hospital by an in-network doctor but analyzed by an out-of-network lab.

In another, a Lancaster resident had surgery at an in-network hospital by an in-network surgeon but was billed $1,300 for services from an out-of-network anesthesiologist.

Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller said she has heard such stories at public hearings and in written accounts from patients. "These stories make it clear this practice must stop," she said.

The Baker-Pickett bill would make sure patients are only held responsible for in-network cost sharing. It would require health care providers to bill the insurer rather than the patient. Disputes over bills would be worked out by the insurer and the health care provider. An independent arbitration process would be used in situations where insurers and medical providers can't reach agreement. The arbitration would involve only the insurer and medical provider, and not the patient.

The House and the Senate bill are each in committee and haven't received any votes.