The following statement may be attributed to Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) concerning President George W. Bush’s signing an executive order committing the federal government to making health care pricing more transparent:

“President Bush receives my praise for committing the federal government to promoting health care transparency. The President's executive order applied to the federal government closely mirrors the principles I am addressing at the state level through the bill I intend to introduce this fall.

“A lack of transparency has created a system where customers do not have the ability to hold providers and payers accountable. We have reached a point where all providers have difficulty being cost conscious because nobody really knows what anything costs anymore. Congress must play a role in leveling the playing field in favor of the health care consumer.

“My health care transparency legislation will require the laws of the states to disclose information on hospital charges, to provide access that information, and to provide a statement of the estimated out-of-pocket costs of an individual for anticipated future health care services.

“Additionally, the bill will call upon the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to conduct research on the types of cost information that individuals find useful in making decisions regarding health care. The study should unveil how useful this information is and how it varies according to an individual’s health insurance coverage. Ideally, the study will also show ways that information may be distributed in a timely and simple manner. I envision this bill paving the way for a future where the true cost of health care is evident to all.

“The American health care system needs a healthy dose of transparency so that consumers can truly be knowledgeable and responsible for making their own health care decisions.”