Brady: Competition is key to driving down costs and empowering Medicare seniors
Texas Insider Report: Washington D.C. The U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health led by Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) today held the first in a series of hearings exploring how to improve the complicated Medicare payment system for hospitals and other health care providers. The hearing examined competition in Medicare and the potential for expanding access quality and savings for Medicare patients.
Specifically witnesses discussed a measure by Rep. Sam Johnson of Texas repealing the ban preventing local physician-owned hospitals from growing to meet the needs of their communities. Another idea considered is a bill by Rep. Tom Price of Georgia that repeals and reforms the troubled Medicare bidding process for supplying durable medical equipment to local seniors.
Congressman Brady stated Competition and choice for seniors is a good thing. It drives down costs and increases access while improving quality. Most importantly it places Medicare patients and their needs above the needs of Washington. Competition and choice give families the power to decide what they want to buy and how to stretch their health care dollars. "
The committee questioned a panel of health care experts that included Joe Antos from the American Enterprise Institute Joe Minissale President of Methodist McKinney Hospital in Texas Robert Steedley President of Barnes Healthcare Services in Georgia and Richard Umbdenstock President and CEO of the American Hospital Association.
Brady added It is our responsibility to protect Medicare for todays seniors and for future generationsincreasing competition in the marketplace can help achieve that. We will continue to hold hearings on improving the payment system for hospitals and other health care providers over the course of this year and develop reforms that will help save Medicare for the long term."
