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Congress held multiple hearings related to the delivery of health care this week. In the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Senators heard testimony on, among other topics, the ways that private equity and for-profit health systems impede price transparency and drive-up medical debt. In Chris Deacon’s testimony, she highlighted the need for greater transparency from insurance companies. “Employers hand over the company credit card to Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, United, Cigna, Optum and CVS, allowing them to pledge company dollars to a healthcare system that can charge whatever they want, however they want, simply because they can.” The Senate HELP Committee held a hearing to further understand what Congress can do to end the medical debt crisis in the U.S. The hearing’s conversation centered on how the medical debt crisis is growing worse and is driving Americans into debt and poverty. Ranking member Senator Cassidy raised the issue that addressing what is causing such high costs in health care can help bring down the burden of debt on the public – highlighting insurance premiums, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) and calling into question hospital pricing. 340B savings, and how hospitals use said savings was also called into question. To view the hearing, click here.