Health Subcommittee Holds Hearing Examining Policies to Address Medicare Provider Payment Challenges and Strengthen Cybersecurity Efforts in Our Nation’s Health Care System
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, led a hearing titled Examining Legislative Proposals to Reform Medicare Provider Payment and Bolster Health Care Cybersecurity.
“Today’s hearing furthered our efforts in finding ways to improve the Medicare payment system, provide greater stability for health care providers across the country, and expand access to resources to help combat growing cybersecurity threats,” said Chairman Griffith. “I look forward to continuing to work on the important policies discussed today that safeguard rural hospitals and practitioners, modernize the Medicare physician payment schedule, and expand Medicare coverage for certain pharmacist services.”
Watch the full hearing here.
Below are key excerpts from today’s hearing:
Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) on H.R. 5737, the Radiology Outpatient Ordering Transmission (ROOT) Act: “It’s called the ROOT Act, and it’s expected to save approximately $2 billion in reduced Medicare spending and produce $1.5 billion in savings for Medicare beneficiaries over ten years. Since 2023, the [Appropriate Use Criteria] program has been indefinitely paused because it became clear its requirements were not working as intended. The ROOT Act will make the necessary fixes to address these problems so providers will have the clinical support tools at the point of care, strengthening appropriate imaging utilization, and provide meaningful program evaluation for future improvements.”
Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) on H.R. 9693, the Patients First Act of 2026: “Today, only 1 in 5 doctors is not an employee of a major health system or a large corporate entity. We have left far too many seniors without access to a primary care provider and pushed more care delivery into more expensive settings through decades of declining reimbursement under the Medicare physician fee schedule. To address these issues, both the GOP Doctors Caucus and the Democrat Doctors Caucus have delivered bipartisan reform to alleviate these issues to ensure better primary care access for seniors to create stability for smaller and rural practices. H.R. 9693, the Patients First Act, authored by me, Doctor Schrier and Doctor Murphy, is a necessary first step, and I am pleased to see that it is included in today’s hearing.”
Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09) on H.R. 9908, the Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act: “Every cyberattack has the potential to impact hundreds, thousands, or even millions of individuals, and in health care, the consequences go much farther than a simple stolen password or a compromised computer system. Recent cyberattacks, including those in my district, have resulted in canceled surgeries and appointments, payment system outages, and even an inability to provide emergency care. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reported a staggering 329 reported breaches this year involving hacking or information technology incidents at health care providers and health plans. These threats pose even greater risks to rural hospitals, which may serve as the only source of care for miles and often have fewer financial and personnel resources to prevent and respond to cyberattacks. And the reported breaches are only those of a 500 patient impact. That’s why I’m pleased to see H.R. 9908, the Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, included in today’s hearing, and I want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Schrier, for her partnership on this bipartisan bill. Our bill takes a targeted approach by directing HHS to develop a comprehensive rural hospital cybersecurity workforce strategy, expand cybersecurity training resources, and improve preparedness against these growing threats.”