Lower Costs, More Transparency Act
- Introduced Sep 8
- Committee Sep 8
- Passed House Dec 11
- Passed Senate Next
- To President Not yet
- Law Not yet
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Summary
Lower Costs, More Transparency Act
Full summary5 paragraphs
This bill requires health care providers and insurers to disclose certain information about health care costs. It also establishes requirements for certain payment methodologies under Medicare and Medicaid and extends several public health programs.
For example, the bill provides statutory authority for regulations that require hospitals to annually publish their prices and related information, including the discounted cash price and negotiated charges. The bill also specifically extends these requirements to clinical laboratories, imaging service providers, and ambulatory surgical centers that participate in Medicare. Additionally, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) must semiannually report to health plan sponsors certain information on spending, rebates, and fees that are associated with covered drugs. Contracts with PBMs for employer-sponsored health plans must also allow health plan fiduciaries to audit certain claims and cost information without undue restrictions.
In addition, the bill requires pass-through pricing models, and prohibits spread-pricing, for payment arrangements with PBMs under Medicaid. It also requires Medicare payments for certain drug administration services at off-campus hospital outpatient departments to be the same as that for other provider settings (i.e., physician offices).
The bill provides funds for the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Treasury, and the Department of Labor to implement and enforce the bill's requirements.
Finally, the bill extends several public health programs, including the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program (through FY2030) and the National Health Service Corps (through December 31, 2025).
Library of Congress summary, Dec 11, 2023
- Passed HouseDec 11, 2023
- Introduced in HouseSep 8, 2023
Actions
- HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.Dec 11, 2023
- HouseOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 320 - 71, 1 Present (Roll no. 708). (text: CR H6762-6785)Dec 11, 2023
- HouseConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6801-6802)Dec 11, 2023
- HouseAt the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.Dec 11, 2023
- HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5378.Dec 11, 2023
- HouseConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6762-6789)Dec 11, 2023
- HouseMrs. Rodgers (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.Dec 11, 2023
- HouseReferred to the Subcommittee on Health.Sep 15, 2023
- HouseIntroduced in HouseSep 8, 2023
- HouseReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.Sep 8, 2023
Bill record
Text versions2
- Engrossed in HouseDec 11, 2023PDF: Engrossed in House
- Introduced in HouseSep 8, 2023PDF: Introduced in House
Committees3
- House Energy and Commerce CommitteeReferred To Sep 8, 2023
- Subcommittee: Health SubcommitteeReferred to
- House Education and Workforce CommitteeReferred To Sep 8, 2023
- House Ways and Means CommitteeReferred To Sep 8, 2023
Sponsor and cosponsors3 cosponsors
- Rep. Cathy Rodgers (R-WA-5)Sponsor, Sep 8, 2023
- FRANK PALLONE (D-NJ-6)OriginalJoined Sep 8, 2023
- Jason Smith (R-MO-8)OriginalJoined Sep 8, 2023
- Virginia Foxx (R-NC-5)OriginalJoined Sep 8, 2023
Amendments0
No amendments offered
Cost estimates and reports2
- CBO: Estimated Direct Spending and Revenue Effects of H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency ActDec 8, 2023As posted on the website of the Clerk of the House on December 5, 2023 https://tinyurl.com/h2vpjp8a
- CBO: Estimated Direct Spending and Revenue Effects of H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency ActSep 14, 2023As posted on the website of the Clerk of the House on September 13, 2023
Titles2
- Lower Costs, More Transparency ActShort Title(s) as Introduced
- To promote price transparency in the health care sector, and for other purposes.Official Title as Introduced
Subjects22
Related bills10
- H.R. 4508 118th, Related bill Hidden Fee Disclosure Act of 2023
- H.R. 4527 118th, Related bill Health DATA Act of 2023
- H.R. 2665 118th, Related bill Supporting Safety Net Hospitals Act
- H.R. 3284 118th, Related bill Providers and Payers COMPETE Act
- H.R. 3839 118th, Related bill To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to increase transparency in generic drug applications.
- H.R. 4883 118th, Related bill Medicare Common Ownership Transparency Act of 2023
- S. 775 118th, Related bill Increasing Transparency in Generic Drug Applications Act
- S. 1855 118th, Related bill Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act of 2023
- S. 2308 118th, Related bill Community Health Care Reauthorization Act
- H.R. 3237 118th, Identical bill To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require each off-campus outpatient department of a provider to include a unique identifier on claims for items and services, and to require providers with a department of a provider to submit to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services an attestation with respect to each such department.
Official record from Congress.gov, the House Clerk and the Senate; lobbying from Lobbying Disclosure Act filings. Updated Oct 28, 2026.