Congressional Hearing Hosts Supporters of Health Cost Transparency

Congressman Steve Kagen noted that while the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) provides some consumer protections, it did not create a transparent medical marketplace to foster competition between caregivers, pharmaceutical manufacturers and health insurers. Therefore, On May 6, 2010, The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on health care pricing transparency which centered on 5 bills, some with bipartisan support, one of which was sponsored by Congressman Kagen. Terry Gardiner of Small Business Majority testified that without information on the cost of care, businesses and individuals lack the information to make informed choices about coverage and care. US PIRG expressed its support for Congressman Kagen’s proposal, HR 4700, calling it “the most comprehensive attempt to bolster transparency across the health care sector.”