Guthrie. Photo: Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call
Incoming Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie is vowing to revive health cost transparency legislation next year if provisions don't make it into a lame duck package.
Why it matters: It's an early preview of Guthrie's priorities as he prepares to take the reins from departing E&C Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who pushed for measures on hospital pricing and PBM reforms.
What he's saying: "First thing we do is see what happens next week, and see how much of health care we can get done," Guthrie said, referring to negotiations on the CR.
- "If not, we need to look at the Lower Cost, More Transparency Act [next year]. It's not going away. If we don't get it done now, we're going to focus on PBM reform, and all the other things that were in that bill."
The House passed the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act a year ago, but the measure hit an impasse in the Senate.
- The bill would codify Trump-era health transparency rules and change the way PBMs are paid, and it has narrow Medicare site-neutral policy changes.
- Guthrie wouldn't elaborate on whether he would craft his own version, saying he needed to see how negotiations shake out. "Whatever is not in, we need to look at it. Look at other opportunities as well," he said.
- He added that he is pushing for the SUPPORT Act to be in the end-of-year package and said he could revive that effort if it's dropped from negotiations.
The latest: Guthrie said a roster of new Energy and Commerce members may come out as soon as Friday.
- The makeup of the committee will change, with eight slots opening because of retirements and departures, he said.
- Guthrie said he hasn't yet had a meeting scheduled with HHS secretary-designate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. but noted he's close to his nephew Joe Kennedy III, who previously served on Energy and Commerce.
