Lowering Health Care Costs For All Americans: Examining Policies Increasing Health Care Transparency

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing on June 10, 2026, focused on policies to increase healthcare price transparency and lower healthcare costs for Americans. The discussion centered on legislative proposals such as the Lower Cost, More Transparency Act and the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, which aim to improve price disclosure across hospitals, insurers, and other healthcare providers. Witnesses highlighted the challenges of opaque pricing, the impact of private equity ownership on healthcare costs and access, and the need for greater transparency in ownership structures and Medicare Advantage plans. The hearing also addressed enforcement of existing transparency rules, the role of employers in negotiating healthcare costs, and the potential for AI to enhance consumer understanding of healthcare prices. Members debated the balance between transparency and competition, the effects of recent Medicaid funding cuts, and the importance of protecting rural hospitals. Several witnesses emphasized that transparency alone is insufficient without addressing market consolidation and anti-competitive practices. The committee underscored the need for bipartisan efforts to improve affordability and accountability in the healthcare system.