Third Way Applauds Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce Hospital Prices
WASHINGTON—Third Way issues the following statement from Darbin Wofford, Deputy Director of Health Care at Third Way:
“Amid the debates on Capitol Hill on how to address rising health care costs, it is promising to see a bipartisan group come together with a smart and timely proposal to lower hospital costs. The Healthy Competition for Better Care Act, introduced by Congressmen Jodey Arrington (R-TX), Don Davis (D-NC), and Rick Allen (R-GA), is a smart approach that we hope moves forward.
“Sky-high hospital prices are one of the key reasons behind the rising cost of health care. The Healthy Competition for Better Care Act would take on anti-competitive behavior in hospital contracting, which would lower costs for patients, employers, and taxpayers. Specifically, the legislation would bar hospitals from utilizing contracting terms such as “all-of-nothing,” “anti-tiering,” “anti-steering,” and “most-favored-nation,” all of which raise prices for care. Because this legislation would go a long way to reducing health care costs, both the Senate HELP Committee and the House Education and Workforce Committee last year passed versions of this bill.
“Third Way is a proud supporter of this legislation and thanks Congressmen Arrington, Davis, and Allen for their leadership. While Congress pursues avenues to reduce the cost of health care and increase affordability for patients, the Healthy Competition for Better Care Act would do just that.”