Cape News

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith has expressed support for President Trump's recent executive order aimed at enhancing health care price transparency. The order directs the Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to implement regulations that allow patients to know the costs they will incur before receiving medical services.

Smith emphasized the impact of rising health care costs on American families, attributing these increases to inflation. He stated, "President Trump understands that one of the ways we can bring down costs is by strengthening the right of patients to know the actual price they will pay before they step foot in a doctor’s office, fill a prescription, or schedule a procedure."

The chairman highlighted past efforts by the Ways and Means Committee to address this issue through hearings on how price transparency could reduce expenses and improve care quality. He criticized the Biden administration for not holding hospitals and insurers accountable, which he believes necessitated congressional action to enhance transparency.

Smith described the executive order as a continuation of previous efforts from both President Trump's first term and House Republicans' initiatives. He concluded by saying, "By increasing transparency and accountability, we can drive down costs and put patients back in control of their health care."