(Olympia, WA)  --  A bill that's been introduced in the House is intended to protect patients in Washington from being surprised with expensive bills resulting from a practice known as balance billing.  Balance billing takes place when patients are charged the difference between what an insurance company is willing to pay and what a doctor or provider wants to make.  The state insurance commissioner says surprise billing was involved in about 17 percent of total insurance claims in 2015.  The measure is being considered by the House Health Care and Wellness Committee.