United States of Care Submits Statement to U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Markup of 15 Bills Addressing Illicit Drugs and Health Care Price Transparency

On June 25, United States of Care (USofCare) submitted a statement for the record to the United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee. Our statement responds to the Committee’s June 25 Markup of 15 Bills Addressing Illicit Drugs and Health Care Price Transparency. 

In our statement, we urge the Committee to prioritize affordability and transparency in the health care system. Since launching in 2018, USofCare has consistently listened to people about the health care system and their experiences with it, raising cost as the first – and most prominent – issue people face. A recent poll from USofCare found that 49% reported experiencing at least one financial pressure related to a medical bill in the past two years. With the burden of high health care costs, many decide not to seek care altogether.

As Congress and this Committee put health care affordability into sharper focus, one resounding truth is clear: people are struggling to pay for the care they need. Federal efforts to promote hospital price transparency have represented an important step forward, but patients remain as baffled as ever by a health care system that continues to confuse and overwhelm.

Many states have already taken action to promote price transparency and provide patients with the information needed to make educated health care decisions for themselves and their families. Policymakers can use this data to pursue additional cost-savings solutions and lower the underlying cost of care for people, employers, and state budgets. 

USofCare is grateful to submit a statement for the record and looks forward to further engagement with the Committee on these issues.