North Tidewater News

WASHINGTON – On July 12, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA) and Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) announced the introduction of a bipartisan health care package comprised of four bills introduced by Committee Members. The package works to increase cost transparency for employers and patients, lower premiums and reduce health care spending, and increase competition by removing incentives for provider consolidation.

“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 Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott.

“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 Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx. “By putting forth legislative measures that codify transparent practices, we are delivering lower costs and more options to the American people.”

The package includes four bills:

• Transparency in Billing Act

• Authored by Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Chairwoman Foxx (R-NC)
• Requires accurate billing practices by hospitals, ensuring that group health plans pay for appropriately billed services

• Transparency in Coverage Act 

• Authored by Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) and Chairman Bob Good (R-VA)
• Codifies the "Transparency in Coverage" final rule, which provides consumers with price transparency for medical services and prescription drugs
• Brings much needed light to Pharmacy Benefit Managers' (PBMs) business practices

• Health DATA Act

• Authored by Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC), and Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR)
• Ensures health plan fiduciaries are not contractually restricted from receiving cost or quality of care information about their plan

• Hidden Fee Disclosure Act 

• Authored by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN)
• Strengthens requirements that PBMs and Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) disclose compensation to plan fiduciaries

Original source can be found here