Zinke Votes to Lower Health Care Costs, Increase Price Transparency for Montanans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke released the following statement after voting in support of the H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act which passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 320-71. H.R. 5378 is reform-oriented legislation designed to lower the cost of health care and increase price transparency for patients in Montana and across the nation.

“Biden’s inflation already has Montanans reaching deep into their pockets to pay for everything across the board – the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act takes a little weight off their shoulders to make sure healthcare doesn’t fall in the budget cuts,” Zinke said. “It expands access to affordable generic drugs and invests into rural healthcare centers to ensure you can sustain the Montana way of life without having to sacrifice proximity to quality care. I hope the Senate doesn’t drag their feet per usual and passes this legislation expeditiously.”

How the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act helps patients:

Increases Price Transparency Throughout the Health Care System for Patients

• Empowers patients and employers to shop for health care and make informed health care decisions by providing timely and accurate information about the cost of care, treatment, and services
• Makes health care price information public by ensuring hospitals, insurance companies, labs, imaging providers, and ambulatory surgical centers publicly list the prices they charge patients
• Lowers costs for patients and employers by requiring health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to disclose negotiated drug rebates and discounts, revealing the true costs of prescription drugs

Addresses the Cost of Prescription Drugs

• Lowers out-of-pocket costs for seniors who receive medication at a hospital-owned outpatient facility
• Expands access to more affordable generic drugs
• Equips employer health plans with the drug price information they need to get the best deal possible for their employees

Supports Patients, Health Care Workers, Community Health Centers, and Hospitals

• Supporting Community Health Centers, which are crucial for patients in rural and underserved areas
• Supporting training programs for new doctors in communities
• Preserving Medicaid for hospitals that take care of uninsured and low-income patients

Extending funding for research to find better treatments and a cure for diabetes, which affects more than 37 million Americans

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