Press Releases

Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga released the following statement after voting in support of the H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act which passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 320-71. H.R. 5378 is reform-oriented legislation designed to lower the cost of health care and increase price transparency for patients in Michigan and across the nation.

“The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act specifically helps seniors, families, and individuals save on the cost of prescription drugs,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “Additionally, this bipartisan legislation takes the important step of expanding access to affordable generic drugs and investing in Community Health Centers which play a vital role in our rural and underserved communities. I hope the Senate acts on this important legislation to lower health care costs in short order.”

How the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act helps patients:

Increases Price Transparency Throughout the Health Care System for Patients

• Empowers patients and employers to shop for health care and make informed health care decisions by providing timely and accurate information about the cost of care, treatment, and services
• Makes health care price information public by ensuring hospitals, insurance companies, labs, imaging providers, and ambulatory surgical centers publicly list the prices they charge patients
• Lowers costs for patients and employers by requiring health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to disclose negotiated drug rebates and discounts, revealing the true costs of prescription drugs

Addresses the Cost of Prescription Drugs

• Lowers out-of-pocket costs for seniors who receive medication at a hospital-owned outpatient facility
• Expands access to more affordable generic drugs
• Equips employer health plans with the drug price information they need to get the best deal possible for their employees

Supports Patients, Health Care Workers, Community Health Centers, and Hospitals

• Supporting Community Health Centers, which are crucial for patients in rural and underserved areas
• Supporting training programs for new doctors in communities
• Preserving Medicaid for hospitals that take care of uninsured and low-income patients
• Extending funding for research to find better treatments and a cure for diabetes, which affects more than 37 million Americans