Sen. Alexander Issues Statement on Executive Order on Health Care Costs

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Health Committee, issued the following statement after the Trump administration announced an executive order to increase price transparency in the health care industry and expand access to direct primary care:

"This Executive Order is consistent with bipartisan efforts in the Senate to increase price transparency in health care costs.

"Patients can't know how to reduce the cost of their health care unless they know what the cost is.

"I especially like the idea of allowing Americans to use their own health savings account money to pay for direct primary care services."

Background:

The Senate health committee last week introduced the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019 -- bipartisan legislation to reduce the health care costs that Americans pay out their pockets. The Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019 ends surprise medical billing, lowers prescription drug prices by increasing competition, increases transparency, improves public health, and makes electronic medical records work better. The committee will vote on the legislation this week.