PATIENT Act will help people get access to the right care, at the right time, and at a price they can afford

Americans need health care transparency and lower prices. The bipartisan PATIENT Act, led by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), will help people get access to the right care, at the right time, and at a price they can afford. 

To help increase price transparency throughout the system, the PATIENT Act requires health care price information from hospitals, insurance companies, and labs to be posted publicly, building upon Trump administration price transparency rules.  

The PATIENT Act also aims to stop health care consolidation so there is more competition, more options, and lower prices for patients. As noted in a FOX News opinion piece by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, “this bill can finally reveal actual hospital, health insurance, and prescription drug prices Americans need to substantially reduce their medical bills.”

“Price transparency is the bipartisan solution to America's health care cost crisis. The Patient Act of 2023 recently passed the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee by a vote of 49 to 0.  

“This bill can finally reveal actual hospital, health insurance, and prescription drug prices Americans need to substantially reduce their medical bills. All Americans and members of Congress should support it. 

“As I wrote in my latest bestseller "March to the Majority," when we developed the Contract with America in 1994, we made sure each provision enjoyed at least 70% public support. Numerous polls show health care price transparency enjoys 90% support. This overwhelming, bipartisan backing is not a surprise.” 

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“Price transparency empowers patients and other health care consumers, including employers and unions, to fight back against runaway medical bills and hold the health care industry accountable. When we can compare actual, upfront prices, including all negotiated rates between hospitals and insurers, we can spot wide price differences that can vary by 10 times or more for the same treatments. We can avoid price gouging in favor of affordable care. 

“For instance, a standard MRI ranges from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. When employers and unions can see such price fluctuations, they can choose the best value and share the savings with employees through lower premiums and higher wages. Patients can budget for care and have peace of mind that they won't face financial ruin from unknown bills that arrive in the mail months later.” 

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“No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, price transparency is a health care solution you can support. It is a market-based reform that empowers consumers to substantially reduce their health care costs and protects patients from price discrimination and outrageous medical bills.” 

CLICK HERE to read the full opinion piece on FOXNews.com. 

CLICK HERE to learn more the PATIENT Act. 

CLICK HERE to read expert opinion pieces featured in Newsweek and RealClear Policy supporting the PATIENT Act.