A non-partisan group of policy leaders who represent healthcare consumers, patients, employers, and doctors announced today the formation of the Alliance for Fair Health Pricing to raise awareness about the primary drivers of rising healthcare prices and advance policies that will make care more affordable for all.
The group says it wants to advance policies that prevent providers, manufacturers and hospitals from engaging in business tactics that stifle competition that lead to higher prices. Members of the new group include American Academy of Family Physicians, American Benefits Council, Arnold Ventures, Families USA, the Erisa Industry Committee, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Purchaser Business Group on Health, and Small Business Majority.
On Sept, 13, the Alliance took its first step in shining a light on the reasons behind rising costs with the release of its new report, “Health Care Consolidation: Background, Consequences, and Policy Levers.” The report reveals how hospital consolidation and a lack of market competition increases prices, impacting healthcare costs, wages and economic growth, and the accessibility and affordability of healthcare.
“The research is clear that high prices are a leading driver of unaffordable health care coverage for consumers and employers,” said Ilyse Schuman, senior vice president, health policy, at the American Benefits Council, in a statement. “Employers are committed to working with the coalition to raise awareness of unsustainable healthcare prices, and their pervasive impact on working families – even those with the very best health insurance coverage.”
The Alliance points to recent momentum for reform building on Capitol Hill. Over the last few months, several committees and member offices on both sides of the aisle have introduced and advanced legislation that would help rein in the costs of healthcare. This includes actions to increase accountability and transparency through policies like price transparency and site-neutral payment reform, which could help address healthcare consolidation.
Coalition members say they hope that pulling back the curtain on what is driving high healthcare costs will give Americans and policymakers a better understanding of how their healthcare prices are set and what solutions are needed to lower costs.
“We know that concerns about prices and inflation are top of mind for Americans and have exacerbated concerns about health care costs. We believe that bringing together a diverse coalition of health care leaders, doctors, consumers, and employers is exactly what is needed to disrupt the status quo,” Erica Socker, vice president of healthcare at Arnold Ventures said in a statement. “The formation of this coalition allows us to maximize our collective impact and outcomes, ultimately lowering excessive healthcare prices and broadening access to affordable, high-quality care.”
