[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H1232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     AMERICANS SHOULD KNOW HOW MUCH OUR HEALTHCARE IS GOING TO COST

  (Mr. MALINOWSKI asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced a fully bipartisan 
healthcare bill, the Know the Price Act. It says something very simple 
that I am confident we will agree on: Americans should know how much 
our healthcare is going to cost before we receive it.
  Many Americans aren't aware that, when we go to a healthcare 
provider, there is often a gag clause, a gag clause in the contracts 
between providers and insurers that blocks us from seeing the cost and 
quality of the care we are about to receive. My bill eliminates these 
gag clauses so that we have the power and the freedom to make informed 
decisions about our healthcare.
  The bill would also allow employers to access deidentified claims 
data, consistent with the Privacy Act, so that they have the 
information they need to choose the healthcare plans that are actually 
best for their employees.
  Mr. Speaker, this is commonsense legislation that will offer families 
and businesses in New Jersey and all across our country more choice in 
their healthcare at lower prices.

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