The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) has praised the House passage of the bipartisan Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. The legislation was led by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), House Committee on Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-MO), and House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC).
The act aims to mandate price transparency across several sectors of the healthcare industry, including prescription drug pricing. "Americans deserve transparent health care pricing, and this bill helps deliver it," said Scott Centorino, deputy policy director at the Foundation for Government Accountability. "Everyone should know what they’re responsible for paying when it comes to both health insurance coverage and the cost of treatments. In the opaque game of health expenses, the bipartisan Lower Costs, More Transparency Act puts more cards facing up so American families can make informed health care decisions and the health care market offers more real market choices for consumers."
Recent polling from the Center for Excellence in Polling indicated that nearly 90 percent of likely voters support giving patients the ability to know the actual price of services at least three days before receiving non-emergency care. "Under this bill, patients would have a right to see the cost of medical services before treatment. This is a popular, patient-first transparency reform aiming to lower health care costs for millions of Americans," added Centorino.
"FGA applauds House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers for her leadership in addressing this nationwide problem with a bipartisan solution."
The Foundation for Government Accountability is a non-profit think tank promoting public policy solutions aimed at creating opportunities for all Americans.