Press Releases

Congressman Drew Ferguson (GA-03) today released the following statement after the House Ways and Means Committee passed H.R. 3284, the Providers and Payers COMPETE Act, which ensures anti-competitive behavior is not tolerated in our healthcare system. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to submit an annual report on the impact of certain Medicare regulations on provider and payer consolidation.

“As it stands, the American healthcare system has allowed vertically integrated health care corporations to penetrate its fabric at every level,” said Congressman Drew Ferguson. “Not only does the current level of consolidation within our healthcare system increase the cost of care for patients, but it also decreases patient access to the already expensive treatment – which significantly impacts rural providers and patients. As vertical integration leads to less competition in the marketplace, patients will continue to lose the agency they once had over their healthcare decisions. We must put the necessary safeguards in place, so patient choice is not compromised, and families receive the maximum value from their healthcare dollars.”

Background:

• Congressman Michael Burgess (TX-26) introduced H.R. 3284, the Providers and Payers COMPETE Act, on May 15, 2023.
• Congressman Ferguson is an original co-sponsor of the bill, and offered H.R. 3284 during a Ways and Means Committee markup on July 26, 2023.
• The legislation passed out of committee by a vote of 23 - 17.