The House Committee on Energy and Commerce announced on Mar. 11 that it will hold a hearing titled "Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: An Examination of the U.S. Provider Landscape" to discuss the role of providers and hospitals in shaping health care costs.
The hearing is part of an ongoing series focused on health care affordability, aiming to address how payment policies, competition, transparency, and other incentives affect patient access and the cost of care. The committee seeks input from panelists on potential solutions to make health care more affordable for Americans.
Chairman Brett Guthrie said, “The third hearing in the Committee’s health care affordability series will examine the role that providers and hospitals play in shaping the cost of care for Americans. Hospitals, physicians, and health care practitioners play a vital role in delivering health care services to patients. This hearing will explore how payment policies, competition, transparency, and other incentives shape patient access and the cost of care. We look forward to hearing from the panelists on potential solutions as the Committee continues working to make health care more affordable for the American people.”
Chairman Morgan Griffith added, “From consolidation in the insurance marketplace to predatory practices in the pharmaceutical drug supply chain, the Health Subcommittee continues to examine all angles in our push to lower health care costs for American patients. Accordingly, our next hearing will address the role of hospital providers to better understand what can be done to make health care more affordable for all Americans.”
The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18 at 10:15 AM ET at 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. It will be open to both the public and press and livestreamed at energycommerce.house.gov.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee focuses on legislation concerning energy, health care, environmental protection, telecommunications and consumer issues according to its official website. The committee has influenced policy areas such as energy innovation, broadband deployment and pharmaceutical pricing according to its official website. It stands as one of the oldest standing committees in the U.S. House of Representatives according to its official website, tracing its origins back to 1795 when it was formed as the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures according to its official website.
As Congress continues efforts toward making health care more accessible and affordable nationwide, observers are expected to follow developments from this upcoming hearing closely.
