U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fla., is backing a proposal from U.S. Reps. Virginia Foxx, R-NC, and Bobby Scott, D-Va., to require “hospitals to have policies and procedures in place for accurate billing to ensure that no American lives in fear of his or her medical bill.”
Foxx, who leads the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee, introduced the “Transparency in Billing” proposal last week as part of a package “to increase cost transparency for employers and patients, lower premiums and reduce health care spending, and increase competition by removing incentives for provider consolidation.” Scott, who leads Democrats on the committee, is co-sponsoring the bill.
“For too long, patients have been left in the dark, unable to make informed health care decisions which has left them paying higher costs. The committee is rectifying these issues by marking up four bipartisan bills designed to increase transparency, promote accurate billing practices, and expand health care options for workers and their families,” said Foxx. “By putting forth legislative measures that codify transparent practices, we are delivering lower costs and more options to the American people.”
“Transparency in health care is essential for fostering meaningful competition, which keeps costs in check for both consumers and employers. The package of bipartisan health care bills the Committee on Education and the Workforce will mark up is a meaningful step to shining a light on many of the commonplace, yet harmful, practices in the health care industry. Moreover, this package will help reduce costs for consumers and will help employers meet their obligation to ensure that their workers’ premium dollars are spent carefully,” said Scott.
Bean threw his support behind the bill, which cleared the committee last week.
“Healthcare is the only industry where a consumer purchases something without knowing the price or value, and that needs to change,” said Bean.
“The House Education and Workforce Committee is leading the charge to transform America’s health care system. This week we secured a health care package that speaks directly to these concerns. With the passage of these innovative bills, people across the nation will no longer have to navigate an inaccessible, unaffordable, and nontransparent health care system,” Bean added. “I applaud Chairwoman Foxx and my fellow members of the Education and Workforce Committee for making this a priority.”
So far, there is no companion measure over in the U.S. Senate.
