Thread by @mjhegar

Surprise medical bills stick vulnerable Texans with thousands in unexpected costs — even if you have good health insurance.

Here's how wealthy corporations worked craven D.C. politicians like @JohnCornyn to kill a bill protecting Texans from surprise billing. #CorporateCornyn

First, what exactly is surprise medical billing?

Go to an in-network hospital, and you think your treatment is covered by insurance. But an out-of-network specialist may treat you without you even knowing it. They can charge big $ — and your insurance won't cover it.

That's BS.

Private equity firms like Blackstone Group and KKR & Co. make an enormous profit off of surprise medical billing. But a bipartisan bill in the Senate threatened to end the practice, putting their profits at risk.

So here’s what they did:

First comes the stick.

A mysterious new dark money group called Doctor Patient Unity begins running millions of dollars worth of ads asking Texans to call John Cornyn to oppose the bill.

That group isn't run by doctors or patients — it's run by Blackstone Group and KKR & Co.

Now comes the carrot.

KKR throws @JohnCornyn a fundraiser in New York City and steers $89,000 in donations to him.

Cornyn caves — and "Doctor Patient Unity" runs ads to boost his profile.

Cornyn abandons his support for the bill, and it dies in the Senate's legislative graveyard. Vulnerable Texas patients are still getting stuck with exorbitant surprise medical bills — but #CorporateCornyn's big donors are happy. buzzfeednews.com/article/paulmc…

#CorporateCornyn isn't fighting to protect hardworking Texas families — he's fighting to protect the profits of his corporate donors.

Texans deserve better. secure.actblue.com/donate/mjh_twi…