House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Health Updates

Jun 23, 2026

RESCHEDULED: Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith Announce Health Subcommittee Markup of 15 Bills Addressing Illicit Drugs and Health Care Price Transparency

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, announced a subcommittee markup of bills to safeguard Americans from illicit substances and increase price transparency in our health care system.

WHAT: Subcommittee on Health Markup on legislation to bring real price transparency to patients and employers across the nation, as well as legislation to safeguard communities from the threat of illicit substances.

DATE: Thursday, June 25, 2026

TIME: 1:00 PM ET

LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

Items to be considered:

H.R. 1266, Combatting Illicit Xylazine Act (Reps. Panetta and Pfluger)
H.R. 2004, Tyler’s Law (Reps. Lieu and Latta)
H.R. 7970, STOP Nitazenes Act (Rep. Latta)
H.R. 1561, ALERT Communities Act (Reps. Crockett and Gooden)
H.R. 7994, HERO Act (Rep. Ruiz)
H.R. 9389, Nutrition Education and Chronic Disease Prevention in Community Health Centers Act of 2026 (Rep. Harshbarger)
H.R. 8201, Expanding Community Access to Health Services Act (Rep. Lee (NV))
H.R. 9393, Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026 (Reps. Guthrie and Pallone)
H.R. 9397, Premium Transparency Act (Reps. Pfluger and Moran)
H.R. 9396, Prior Authorization Accountability Act (Rep. Goldman (TX))
H.R. 9390, Prices on the Wall Act of 2026 (Rep. Miller-Meeks)
H.R. 3514, Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 (Reps. Kelly and DelBene)
H.R. 9392, Medicare Advantage Cost Transparency Act (Reps. DeGette and Joyce (PA))
H.R. 5243, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase data transparency for supplemental benefits under Medicare Advantage. (Rep. McClellan)
H.R. 9395, Transparency in Medicare Advantage Steering Act (Rep. Ocasio-Cortez)

This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Claire Richey with the Committee staff at Claire.Richey@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Katie West at Katie.West@mail.house.gov.

Jun 23, 2026

Press Release

Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith Announce Health Subcommittee Markup of 15 Bills Addressing Illicit Drugs and Health Care Price Transparency

WHAT: Subcommittee on Health markup on legislation to bring real price transparency to patients and employers across the nation, as well as legislation to safeguard communities from the threat of illicit substances.

DATE: Thursday, June 25, 2026

TIME: 2:00 PM ET

LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

Items to be considered:

H.R. 1266, Combatting Illicit Xylazine Act (Reps. Panetta and Pfluger)
H.R. 2004, Tyler’s Law (Reps. Lieu and Latta)
H.R. 7970, STOP Nitazenes Act (Rep. Latta)
H.R. 1561, ALERT Communities Act (Reps. Crockett and Gooden)
H.R. 7994, HERO Act (Rep. Ruiz)
H.R. 9389, Nutrition Education and Chronic Disease Prevention in Community Health Centers Act of 2026 (Rep. Harshbarger)
H.R. 8201, Expanding Community Access to Health Services Act (Rep. Lee (NV))
H.R. 9393, Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026 (Reps. Guthrie and Pallone)
H.R. 9397, Premium Transparency Act (Reps. Pfluger and Moran)
H.R. 9396, Prior Authorization Accountability Act (Rep. Goldman (TX))
H.R. 9390, Prices on the Wall Act of 2026 (Rep. Miller-Meeks)
H.R. 3514, Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 (Reps. Kelly and DelBene)
H.R. 9392, Medicare Advantage Cost Transparency Act (Reps. DeGette and Joyce (PA))
H.R. 5243, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase data transparency for supplemental benefits under Medicare Advantage. (Rep. McClellan)
H.R. 9395, Transparency in Medicare Advantage Steering Act (Rep. Ocasio-Cortez)

Jun 10, 2026

Press Release

Chairman Griffith Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Health Hearing to Examine Policies to Increase Health Care Transparency for Patients and Employers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing titled Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: Examining Policies to Increase Health Care Transparency.

Subcommittee Chairman Griffith’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Today’s hearing will examine ways we can work to improve health care price transparency.

“Health care affordability has long been a priority for this Committee and Congressional Republicans.

“Building on the foundation established by President Trump’s transparency initiatives, we have focused on policies that increase competition, expand consumer choice, reduce regulatory burdens, and strengthen transparency throughout the health care system.

“While there is no single solution to addressing rising health care costs, empowering Americans with better information and transparency data remains a critical step toward a more efficient, accountable, and affordable health care landscape.

“For too long, patients, families, and employers have faced a health system where the cost of care is often unclear—sometimes even unclear after care is delivered.

“As we have seen throughout our Affordability Series, health care pricing, medical bills, and coverage information can be complex and opaque.

“But it does not have to be that way.

“Greater transparency is essential to creating a more consumer-driven marketplace, where patients have the tools needed to make more-informed care decisions.

“When patients have a better understanding of the costs associated with medical treatments, procedures, and services, they are better positioned to compare options, seek high-value care, and avoid unexpected medical bills.

“Increased transparency is also critical to bringing health care disruptors into the market and promoting competition amongst insurers and providers, where we continue to see consolidation that contributes to higher health care costs.

“It is important that we strive to foster a health system that not only delivers high-quality care at a more affordable cost but also increases accountability across the sector.

“This Administration, both in President Trump’s first term and in this current term, has prioritized bringing more transparency to health care.

“Some of the proposals today build off the transparency work that President Trump has implemented through regulatory pathways, meaning a different administration can come in and change or reverse course on them.

“That’s why codification is important, as it aims to allow for a more standardized format and implementation of rules for hospitals and insurers to follow.

“For instance, many hospitals have invested millions of dollars into creating transparency within their system and shifting regulations by different administrations only adds to that cost.

“During this hearing, we will explore a range of legislative proposals aimed at strengthening transparency requirements and providing patients with upfront, clear information about health care prices.

“One of the bills we will consider is an updated version of the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, which was led by former Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and passed on the House floor back in 2023.

“The bill aims to increase price transparency throughout the health care system, including hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and clinical labs and imaging testing.

“Additionally, some of the proposals today look at ways we can empower the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, with the tools they need to improve price transparency data and accountability.

“Further, we look at ways participants can be more fully informed, as one of the discussion drafts requires Medicare Advantage and commercial health plans to publicly post their prior authorization data so that individuals can view the plans’ approval and denial rates for health claims.

“Another bill we will discuss is H.R. 5582, the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, championed by Representative John James from Michigan. This bill takes a slightly different approach compared to the Lower Cost, More Transparency Act, but shares the same goal of bringing more transparency into the market.

“I am proud of this Subcommittee’s commitment toward working to lower health care costs for all Americans, and I am eager to examine these proposals so we can continue to look for ways to make health care more affordable and transparent.

“I thank the witnesses for being here today, and I look forward to the discussion.”

Jun 10, 2026

Press Release

Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing to Examine Policies Increasing Price Transparency for Patients and Employers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, led a hearing titled Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: Examining Policies to Increase Health Care Transparency.

“For too long, patients, families, and employers have faced a health system where the cost of care is often unclear—sometimes even until after care is delivered,” said Chairman Griffith. “Building on the foundation established by President Trump’s transparency initiatives, we have focused on policies that increase competition, expand consumer choice, reduce regulatory burdens, and strengthen transparency throughout the health care system.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

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Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (IA-01) on the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026: “One of the bills we’re considering is the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026, which this Committee has previously passed. While patients are often encouraged to shop for care and make informed decisions, too many still lack access to clear, timely, and usable information about the cost of services. [...] As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand—my arch nemesis—the challenges prior authorizations can create throughout our insurance companies, be they private or public. And today, we’re considering discussion drafts that would require commercial health plans to provide greater transparency into prior authorization and claim denial rates, which, we know, about 90 percent of those are approved after the first review. So, as well as the plans’ overhead cost, how would this additional data benefit the employers you represent?” Mr. Gremminger: “So first, I’ll just say we very much support the discussion draft. I think the employer perspective on prior authorization [and] utilization management is a nuanced one, right? We have seen too often where physicians may inadvertently or potentially intentionally prescribe drugs that are higher priced than what’s otherwise necessary or try to do services that are unnecessary and may actually be harmful to patients. That’s a rarity. But we think it’s important that there is actually an opportunity to say, ‘Time out; let’s look at something else.’ That being said, we do believe that the significant use of prior auth is often simply to just delay care, create float for the insurance plan and then, ultimately, they’re going to 90 percent of the time say yes. Understanding how often prior auth is being used—not just by the carriers that we may be contracted with, but by other carriers—will then provide more information for employers to say, ‘I don’t like the way that we’re doing it internally. We found there’s this other carrier over here. We have their data. We want to shift to them because we think that they’re doing this better.’”

image (2).png

Congressman John James (MI-10) on the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act: “The idea behind this legislation is simple: it will make it easier for patients to price-compare when getting medical treatment so they can pick the lowest cost option—just like they do in every other aspect of their lives. People drive out of their way to fill up on cheaper gas. They check different websites for the best price before making an online purchase. They price-compare before buying a flight. They get an estimate before making house repairs... so why can’t the people price-compare before getting a medical procedure? Because it’s too hard. The people are forced to blindly pay whatever it costs, because hospital prices are confusing and hard to find. The system is too complicated by design; it’s a ‘Confusopoly’. As a result, patients end up paying hundreds of thousands of dollars more for the exact same services and the same level of care with the same billing codes. Patients Deserve Price Tags was part of a bipartisan, Lower Costs, More Transparency legislation the House approved last term.”

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Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) on the Clear Healthcare Expense Cost Knowledge (CHECK) Act: “The CHECK Act is designed to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding health care costs, giving patients clearer information, bringing hidden costs out into the open, and creating better accountability throughout the system. In every other part of our economy, consumers can see prices before making a purchase. When you go to a restaurant, you get a menu. There are prices on it. When you walk through a grocery store, there are prices on every shelf. Health care should be no different. There should not be a surprise when you get a letter in the mail a month later.”

Jun 4, 2026

Health

Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith Announce Legislative Hearing to Examine Policies Increasing Price Transparency for Patients and Employers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, announced a hearing titled Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: Examining Policies to Increase Health Care Transparency.

“Next week's hearing builds upon this Subcommittee’s Health Care Affordability series through addressing a long-standing priority of this Committee, Congressional Republicans, and President Trump: price transparency. Finding solutions to empower patients and employers with clearer health care pricing remains an important component in efforts to fix our broken health care system,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith. “During this hearing, we will explore a range of legislative proposals to equip consumers and businesses with timely and accurate data about the cost of health care treatments and services, providing patients and employers with the tools they need to access high-quality, lower cost care.”

Subcommittee on Health hearing titled Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: Examining Policies to Increase Health Care Transparency.

WHAT: Subcommittee on Health hearing to explore legislative solutions to increase transparency in our American health care system.

DATE: Wednesday, June 10, 2026

TIME: 10:15 AM ET

LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

• H.R. ____, [Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026]
• H.R. ____, [To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to require hospitals to post prices on the walls.]
• H.R. ____, [To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act and title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure health insurer accountability through publishing of overhead costs and claim payments.]
• H.R. ____, [To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to require the displaying of claim denial rates.]
• H.R. 5582, Patients Deserve Price Tags (Reps. James and Goodlander)
• H.R. 9117, Clear Healthcare Expense Cost Knowledge Act of 2026 (Rep. Langworthy)
• H.R. ____, [To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the inclusion of certain information in Medicare Advantage encounter data.]
• H.R. ____, [To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require mandatory reporting with respect to certain health-related ownership information.]
• H.R. ____, [To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit the compensation that may be paid to agents and brokers by Medicare Advantage organizations.]

This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at [energycommerce.house.gov](This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Annabelle Huffman with the Committee staff at Annabelle.Huffman@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Katie West at Katie.West@mail.house.gov.). If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Claire Richey with the Committee staff at Claire.Richey@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Katie West at Katie.West@mail.house.gov.

May 20, 2026

Health

Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing Examining Medicare Physician Payment Issues and Reforms Enacted in MACRA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, led a hearing titled Examining the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MACRA, and Opportunities for Payment Reforms.

“Our discussion today built on the Affordability Series that we have been working on throughout the year and allowed us to better understand how provider payment challenges can impact health care affordability,” said Chairman Griffith. “Physicians, nurses, and other health care providers are critical to our health care system, and their work remains essential to ensuring patients have access to timely, high-quality care in every community. Maintaining a stable and sustainable physician payment system is important not only for supporting providers, but also for preserving competition, affordability, and access to care for patients.”

Watch the full hearing here.

Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:

5.20 Bilirakis.jpg

Congressman Gus Bilirakis, (FL-12): “How does the current Medicare reimbursement structure affect the ability of independent practices to staff appropriately, invest in technology, and continue offering quality services to patients?” Dr. Snyder: “It’s making it very challenging to maintain an office or staff. Frequently, our staff are looking—it’s always greener on the other side—our staff are going to other hospital-employed models because they can offer more because of reimbursement [because] there is more. And it’s having a significant impact on our ability to see as many patients in the office as we as we would like to.” Congressman Bilirakis: “If these reimbursement challenges remain unresolved, what would that mean for patient choice, access to community-based care, and overall health care costs? The bottom line.” Dr. Snyder: “If these go unabated, we are experiencing what I like to affectionately call the “Our-physicians-are-entering-the-physician-transfer-portal,” and going to a hospital employment. And frequently, their patients will follow them, but we see they come back. Because, “Yes, I wanted to follow Dr. Jones, I've known him for a long time. We have a very good relationship. But when I went to go get my annual test, my annual echocardiogram or guideline indicated stress test, it is two to three times the cost.” And they're on the hook for that, and they will come back frequently.” Congressman Bilirakis: “So, there’s no patient choice in a lot of cases.”

5.20 Joyce V2.jpg

Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13): “Dr. Fox, you stated specifically, in your area in Virginia, that you have seen independent primary care practices being bought up by hospital systems. Do you feel that when that occurs, the ensuing vertical integration leads to less personalized care, less access for the seniors who, as I said, paid into this Medicare system for their entire working lives?” Dr Fox: “I do, Dr. Joyce. I’m seeing vertical integration occurring all around me, and I have for the last several decades, as practices in my community are being sold to private equity or being acquired by the health care system.” Congressman Joyce: “Delve into that a little bit more. Once we're sold to a private equity firm, do you find the physicians have less time to spend with their patients?” Dr. Fox: “Well, we know from studies that vertical integration leads generally to higher costs.” Congressman Joyce: “Do you feel that it affects the ability of the physician—you, the physician sitting across the table from this patient, to refer them to the best specialists, the best hospital facility, the best laboratory, the best radiologic facility? Does that impact on that?” Dr Fox: “My colleagues share with me that there are enormous pressures placed upon them when they are in large health systems or in private equity, that there are pressures to be more productive.”

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Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01): “As someone who’s dedicated their professional life to the practice of medicine, the issue of payment reform is, in my opinion, the most critical issue for physician stability and the long-term viability of our health care workforce, and especially, as in my state, rural health care. The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule was intended to create stability and predictability. Instead, physicians have faced years of uncertainty, repeated payment cuts—actually, on an annual basis—and growing administrative burdens. At the same time, the cost of delivering care continues to rise. If we continue on this current path, we are not just cutting payments, we are cutting patients access to local care they know and trust.”

May 14, 2026

Health

RESCHEDULED: Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith Announce Hearing to Examine Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and MACRA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, announced a hearing titled Examining the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MACRA, and Opportunities for Payment Reforms.

“As the Committee continues working to improve care for seniors, this hearing will examine efforts under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) to reform Medicare physician payment and explore current challenges in the Medicare physician fee schedule,” said Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith. “Despite efforts in MACRA to move past annual ‘doc fixes’ and enhance seniors’ quality of care, we have continued to see physician payment instability in the Medicare program. This uncertainty, in addition to other regulatory burdens, creates challenges for providers and, ultimately, the beneficiaries they serve. This hearing will examine these long-standing challenges and help identify solutions to stabilize physician payment and protect seniors’ access to care.”

Subcommittee on Health hearing titled Examining the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MACRA, and Opportunities for Payment Reforms.

WHAT: Subcommittee on Health hearing to build upon our Affordability Series hearing with health care providers by examining Medicare physician payment issues and reforms enacted in MACRA.

DATE: Wednesday, May 20, 2026

TIME: 2:00 PM ET

LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building

This notice is at the direction of the Chairman. The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. If you have any questions concerning this hearing, please contact Annabelle Huffman with the Committee staff at Annabelle.Huffman@mail.house.gov. If you have any press-related questions, please contact Katie West at Katie.West@mail.house.gov.

May 13, 2026

Health

Chairman Griffith Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Health Markup of Public Health Reauthorizations and Policies to Improve FDA and Medicare

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, delivered the following opening statement at today’s markup of several public health reauthorization bills, as well as bills that strengthen FDA oversight and improve Medicare outcomes for patients and providers alike.

Subcommittee Chairman Griffith's opening statement as prepared for delivery:

“Today’s markup contains ten bills addressing a range of important health issues.

“The legislation before us reflects this subcommittee’s efforts to improve public health outcomes, enhance patient access, and modernize our health care delivery system to better meet the challenges Americans face.

“These bills represent thoughtful efforts from members on both sides of the aisle.

“Several of the bills before us focus on reauthorizing critical public health programs that support early detection and prevention that expire at the end of this fiscal year.

“Marking up these reauthorizations gives us the ability to continue to support these initiatives, while also allowing us the opportunity to examine ways we can strengthen these programs.

“This includes H.R. 4348, the Kay Hagan Tick Act reauthorization, which supports and enhances programs for tick-borne disease research, prevention, and interagency coordination.

“We will also consider H.R. 4541, the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act, or the EARLY Act, which supports breast cancer detection and education for young and high-risk women.

“Additionally, we will mark up the Accelerating Access and Dementia and Alzheimer’s Provider Training Act, or the AADAPT (ADAPT) Act reauthorization, which seeks to improve care through provider tools and training initiatives.

“I also want to highlight H.R. 8205, the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act, which is before us this afternoon.

“Last month, I had the privilege of speaking with the founders of I Am ALS, Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya, and participating alongside them in a press conference held by Representative Quigley, who has done great work on this issue.

“Their testimony before the Subcommittee was both moving and insightful, and I especially want to recognize that they had driven all the way from Chicago to be at our hearing and advocate for this important program to support those with ALS.

“We will also consider H.R. 5160, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act, which extends and funds national programs that facilitate bone marrow and cord blood transplants for patients with blood cancers and other fatal diseases.

“In addition, we are marking up H.R. 8209, legislation to reauthorize School-Based Health Centers, which aim to strengthen school-based health services and mental health access for students.

“We also have a couple of FDA reform bills before us today.

_“One of which is H.R. 2715, the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act, which gives FDA the authority to destroy imported products that pose a significant public health concern.

_“The other is H.R. 2021, the FDA Modernization 3.0 Act, which directs the FDA to fully implement policies established under FDA Modernization 2.0 to reduce unnecessary animal testing for drug development.

_“Lastly, we will mark up two bills from our Medicare patient access hearing earlier this year.

“H.R. 1703, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act, works to expand access to titanium and carbon fiber wheelchairs for Medicare beneficiaries; while H.R. 5347, the Health Care Efficiency Through Flexibility Act, aims to improve health care reporting for Accountable Care Organizations.

“I am encouraged by the collaborative work that has gone into the legislation before us today, and I want to thank all the members and staff who worked to bring these bills to the Subcommittee.

“I look forward to continuing to work on these policies and bringing them to the full Committee, and I am eager for a productive markup this afternoon.”

May 12, 2026

Press Release

Chairmen Guthrie and Griffith Announce Hearing to Examine Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and MACRA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, announced a hearing titled Examining the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MACRA, and Opportunities for Payment Reforms.

Subcommittee on Health hearing titled Examining the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MACRA, and Opportunities for Payment Reforms.

WHAT: Subcommittee on Health hearing to build upon our Affordability Series hearing with health care providers by examining Medicare physician payment issues and reforms enacted in MACRA.

DATE: Tuesday, May 19, 2026

TIME: 2:00 PM ET

LOCATION: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building