[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 44 (Friday, April 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S3383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BROWNBACK (for himself and Mr. Coburn):
  S. 2606. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 
make publicly available on the official Medicare Internet site Medicare 
payment rates for frequently reimbursed hospital inpatient procedures, 
hospital outpatient procedures, and physicians' services; to the 
Committee on Finance.
  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, today, I rise to introduce the Medicare 
Payment Rate Disclosure Act of 2006. This legislation tackles a key 
problem facing Americans today--that of rising health-related costs. It 
does so by empowering citizens to act as informed consumers when 
purchasing their health care. Countless examples in our Nation's 
history demonstrate that the American consumer possesses the ability to 
drive prices down and quality up by making informed decisions in the 
marketplace. Yet the cost of health care is not easily accessible to 
the American consumer, given the nature of our present system.
  The Medicare Payment Rate Disclosure Act would create price 
transparency at a consumer level, allowing Americans to choose for 
themselves health care services that are affordable within their 
region. This bill ensures that there is one location on the Internet 
where either consumers with health savings accounts or who are 
uninsured can go to view the Medicare reimbursement rates for all 
common medical procedures and physician visits, region by region. This 
information will provide a critical baseline for these individuals to 
assess health care costs.
  I believe that by removing barriers for health care consumers to 
``own their health care'' and make the best personal choices, we 
empower Americans with the knowledge to take charge of their health 
spending and to negotiate health care prices. I should note that my 
home State of Kansas is also considering price-transparency 
initiatives.
  This legislation is a good first step towards improving the quality 
of health care and lowering costs to consumers. I thank the original 
cosponsor, Senator Tom Coburn, for his support of this measure. 
Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support the Medicare Payment Rate 
Disclosure Act of 2006.
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