Washington, D.C. – (June 8, 2023) – Today, AHIP submitted testimony to the Senate Finance Committee for a hearing titled, “Consolidation and Corporate Ownership in Health Care: Trends and Impacts on Access, Quality and Costs.” In its statement, AHIP offered several solutions to support the competition that is so essential to improving affordability, access, and value for everyone.
AHIP’s policy prescriptions to improve competition are part of its Healthier People through Healthier Markets initiative, launched in 2022. These proven solutions are based on four clear commitments to American families, communities, and businesses: improving patient choice; protecting patients, consumers, and businesses from overpaying for care; improving transparency; and stopping drug pricing games.
Here are the highlights from AHIP’s statement submitted today:
“Every American deserves access to affordable, high-quality health care. With this commitment, AHIP thanks the Committee for its attention to the issue of consolidation in health care, and their goal of supporting competitive markets which are essential to improving affordability for patients.”
“The American health care system has been tested in extraordinary ways in recent years, and it has proved resilient and durable, thanks to unprecedented collaboration between the private sector and the government. Yet, Americans continue to see health care prices escalate year after year, a direct result of health system and drug manufacturer markets where there is little to no competition. In markets where competition exists – for example, when there are several, independent local hospitals, or low-cost generic drugs – private negotiations work to make health care more affordable, spur innovations such as value-based agreements and integrated care models, and provide Americans with more choices for their care. We support the bipartisan momentum of the Committee toward greater affordability and access through robust competition that is essential to providing Americans with more choices, better quality, and lower costs. We are committed to working with the Committee as well as other health care leaders to take decisive action to achieve these goals.”
“…we encourage the Committee to consider our policy suggestions to hold consolidated health systems, short term-focused private equity funds, and the dialysis duopoly accountable for the role they play in limiting competition and driving up health care prices – which together threaten affordability and access for everyone.”
Learn more about Healthier People through Healthier Markets.
About AHIP
AHIP is the national association whose members provide health care coverage, services, and solutions to hundreds of millions of Americans every day. We are committed to market-based solutions and public-private partnerships that make health care better and coverage more affordable and accessible for everyone. Visit www.ahip.org to learn how working together, we are Guiding Greater Health.