Senate Committee Advances Health Care Reform Bill

The Senate HELP Committee advanced the Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act with a 14 to 7 bipartisan vote.

The bill (S. 2840) includes a number of HR Policy supported provisions which would:

• Prohibit anticompetitive contract provisions that prevent employer health plans from directing employees to higher-value, lower-cost providers;
  
  
• Reduce the number of hospital facility fees for care received in physicians’ offices that are acquired by a hospital system; and
  
  
• Prohibit hospitals from billing facility fees for telehealth services.

Amendments to the bill will increase transparency. The Senate HELP Committee also approved two amendments (here and here) from Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) that would increase and improve hospital and drug price transparency.

Outlook: The bill now moves to the Senate floor this fall with bipartisan support that increases the odds it could pass the chamber before the end of the year.