The House Committee on Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee held a March 18 hearing titled “Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: An Examination of the U.S. Provider Landscape.”
The hearing examined how the U.S. health care provider landscape, including hospitals, physician practices, and community-based providers affects health care costs, access, and affordability. The association circulated a statement to committee members in response to the hearing, highlighting the increasingly challenging circumstances that essential hospitals are facing.
Members debated the impact of provider consolidation, Medicare and Medicaid payment policy, transparency, and recent coverage changes on patients and providers. Democrats continued to highlight how the Medicaid cuts stemming from H.R. 1 are devastating hospitals. Witnesses broadly agreed that consolidation, administrative burden, and misaligned payment incentives are major cost drivers, though members sharply disagreed on the role of recent federal health policy changes.
Committee Activity This Week
The House is in session Tuesday through Friday, and the Senate will be in session Monday through Friday.
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