House Energy and Commerce Committee Approves Transparency Amendment to HR 3200

Tags: health insurers | healthcare reform | hospitals | HR 3200 | pricing information | transparency

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 51-0 to include an amendment to the House' healthcare reform bill, HR 3200, that would require greater price transparency from hospitals and health insurers, according to a news release from the American Hospital Association.

Under the amendment, states would be required to publicly report information on hospital charges, and health insurers would be required to provide customers with estimates of their out-of-pocket costs for health services.

Reps. Joe Barton (R-Texas), Gene Green (D-Texas), Michael Burgess (R-Texas) and Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) introduced the amendment.

Read the AHA's release on the new price information healthcare reform amendment.