Concerns About H.R. the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I voted in favor of H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, which passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 320-71.
I strongly support several provisions in H.R. 5378, which would take important steps to create a more transparent and affordable healthcare system. For example, this legislation requires hospitals to make public all their standard charges for items and services, and it requires insurers to make public their negotiated in-network provider rates for all items and services.
H.R. 5378 also requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to provide detailed information on prescription drug costs and increases access to affordable generic drugs. The legislation also extends funding for critical public health programs, including community health centers and the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).
However, H.R. 5378 isn't perfect. It includes site-neutral provisions that raise concerns about potential harm to essential hospitals and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), particularly in rural and underserved areas like those in Oregon's Fourth Congressional District. Safety-net hospitals already face increased financial pressure due to inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic, and divesting funding or cutting payments at this time could negatively impact these entities and the crucial services they provide.
There were also procedural issues with this bill. By fast-tracking this legislation without regular order, including not allowing for amendments to improve the bill, H.R. 5378 didn't receive the congressional debate nor input that it should have. These aspects of the legislative process are not mere procedural formalities but are essential components of responsible governance and good-faith policymaking.
Transparency, a central theme of this legislation, should extend beyond policy goals to the legislative process itself. As Congress continues efforts to improve our healthcare system, I urge my colleagues in the Senate and in congressional leadership to improve this legislation to ensure there are no unintended consequences, including ensuring the legislation does not impede access to healthcare where it is needed most.
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