[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 12, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONCERNS ABOUT H.R. 5378, THE LOWER COSTS, MORE TRANSPARENCY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VAL T. HOYLE

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 12, 2023

  Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I voted in favor of H.R. 
5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, which passed the House 
with a bipartisan vote of 320-71.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On December 12, 2023, page E1207, in the second column, the 
following appeared: Mr HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I 
voted in favor of H.R. 5378, the Lower
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: Ms. HOYLE of 
Oregon. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I voted in favor of H.R. 5378, the 
Lower


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  I strongly support several provisions in H.R. 5378, which would take 
important steps to create a more transparent and affordable healthcare 
system. For example, this legislation requires hospitals to make public 
all their standard charges for items and services, and it requires 
insurers to make public their negotiated in-network provider rates for 
all items and services.
  H.R. 5378 also requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to provide 
detailed information on prescription drug costs and increases access to 
affordable generic drugs. The legislation also extends funding for 
critical public health programs, including community health centers and 
the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).
  However, H.R. 5378 isn't perfect. It includes site-neutral provisions 
that raise concerns about potential harm to essential hospitals and 
hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), particularly in rural and 
underserved areas like those in Oregon's Fourth Congressional District. 
Safety-net hospitals already face increased financial pressure due to 
inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic, and divesting funding or cutting 
payments at this time could negatively impact these entities and the 
crucial services they provide.
  There were also procedural issues with this bill. By fast-tracking 
this legislation without regular order, including not allowing for 
amendments to improve the bill, H.R. 5378 didn't receive the 
congressional debate nor input that it should have. These aspects of 
the legislative process are not mere procedural formalities but are 
essential components of responsible governance and good-faith 
policymaking.
  Transparency, a central theme of this legislation, should extend 
beyond policy goals to the legislative process itself. As Congress 
continues efforts to improve our healthcare system, I urge my 
colleagues in the Senate and in congressional leadership to improve 
this legislation to ensure there are no unintended consequences, 
including ensuring the legislation does not impede access to healthcare 
where it is needed most.

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