|
|
|
|
For Immediate Release
07/16/09
Contact: |
Jena Longo - Democratic Deputy Communications Director 202.224.7824
|
|
|
|
|
Hearing Summary: Competition in the Health Care Marketplace
|
|
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a subcommittee hearing today on Competition in the Health Care Marketplace.
Witness List:
Mr. Richard A. Feinstein, Director, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission
Dr. Len M. Nichols, Director, Health Policy Program, New America Foundation
Mr. David Balto, Senior Fellow, Center For American Progress
Mr. Mark Riley, Executive Vice President, Arkansas Pharmacists Association
Ms. Grace-Marie Turner, President, Galen Institute
Key Quotes from Today’s Hearing:
“If we are serious about providing every American with access to affordable, meaningful health care coverage, we absolutely must start by confronting its soaring costs. The average American family today pays twice as much for its health care as it did a decade ago. A big reason behind rising health care costs is the coercive practices that manipulate the market, mask true cost, and burden health care consumers with even greater risk while others reap the profits. This is absolutely unacceptable to me.”
Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV
“Anti-competitive practices among health care industry players are an overlooked component of skyrocketing healthcare costs,” Pryor said. “Today’s hearing helped showcase the lack of transparency in the health care market, the unequal bargaining power among health industry sectors and the conflicts of interest that exist. These issues are certainly food for thought as we look at how to make health care coverage more affordable and accessible for every American.”
Senator Mark Pryor, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance
“Some have suggested that the antitrust laws act as barriers to health care provider collaborations that could lower costs and improve quality. That is simply wrong. Properly applied, antitrust standards distinguish between price fixing by health care providers, which is likely to increase health care costs, and effective clinical integration among health care providers that has the potential to achieve cost savings and improve health outcomes.”
Mr. Richard A. Feinstein, Director, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission
“In economic terms, we pay more on average than the cost of efficient production. In fact, much of our production is amazingly inefficient. As a consequence of both problems, many patients receive care that is of sub-optimal quality. In short, we get very poor value for our health care dollars.”
Dr. Len M. Nichols, Director, Health Policy Program, New America Foundation
“I have a simple and vital message for this Committee: the Ingenix example is only the tip of the iceberg. The fundamental elements for a competitive market are transparency and choice and in both respects, health insurance markets are clearly broken. Few markets are as concentrated, opaque and complex, and subject to rampant anticompetitive and deceptive conduct. As the health care debate progresses, many advocate for limited reform of the health insurance system. Their belief is that it is a fundamentally sound market and with a little dose of additional regulatory oversight, all the ills of the market will be cured. They could not be more mistaken.”
Mr. David Balto, Senior Fellow, Center For American Progress
“The Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) market is highly concentrated and that enables them to exercise ‘monopsony’ or buyer power to reduce compensation to the pharmacies that provide dispensing services. ...The savings from reducing compensation [to pharmacies] is not passed on to buyers in lower prices because of the market power of PBMs. Moreover, ultimately the consumer of drugs is harmed because there are fewer pharmacies available because of reduced reimbursement rates, or other forms of pharmacy services diminish. Leaving the PBM scheme unfettered and without oversight to ensure true open competition, along with leaving matters to litigation, is unworkable.”
Mr. Mark Riley, Executive Vice President, Arkansas Pharmacists Association
“Congress is attempting to address in major health reform legislation the many problems in our health sector: Health insurance and health care still cost too much. As a result, tens of millions of Americans don’t have health insurance, and many more are worried they are one pink slip away from losing their coverage. The lack of competition in health insurance in many states limits the options for coverage and over-regulation drives up costs. And the costs of Medicare and Medicaid are swallowing up a growing share of federal and state revenues, compromising other functions of government and threatening huge tax increases just to pay for current entitlement commitments.”
Ms. Grace-Marie Turner, President, Galen Institute
###
|
|
|
|
|
30th - |
Rockefeller, Boxer Applaud Funding for Rail Safety Grants
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV) lauded the Senate Appropriations Committee for fully funding a new railroad safety technology grant program, created by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008.
The committee passed the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill, which includes $50 million for the Railro...
|
|
|
30th - |
Hearing Summary - Climate Services: Solutions from Commerce to Communities
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing today on Climate Services: Solutions from Commerce to Communities.
Witness List:
The Honorable Gary Locke, Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce
The Honorable John P. Holdren, Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President
Key ...
|
|
|
30th - |
Chairman Rockefeller's Remarks on Climate Services: Solutions from Commerce to Communities
- Our climate shapes every aspect of our lives. It determines where we build our roads and homes. It affects our health and it controls the amount of energy we need. Over one-third of our nation’s Gross Domestic Product is affected by weather and climate.
Climate change is happening—the scientists agree—we have observed rising temperatures and sea levels, reduced snow and ice...
|
|
|
30th - |
Rockefeller Seeks Information on Health Care Co-ops
- WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation released three letters seeking information regarding cooperative business arrangements, particularly in the health care arena. The letters were sent to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the National Cooperative Business Association, and the U.S. Department...
|
|
|
|
|
29th - |
Hearing Summary: Nominations Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing today on nominations.
Witness List:
Mr. Christopher P. Bertram, to be Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs and Chief Financial Officer at the United States Department of Transportation
Ms. Susan L. Kurland, to be Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International A...
|
|
|
|
|
28th - |
Hearing Summary - Weathering the Storm: The Need for a National Hurricane Initiative
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing today on Weathering the Storm: The Need for a National Hurricane Initiative.
Witness List:
Dr. Kelvin K. Droegemeier, Co-Chairman, Task Force on Hurricane Science and Engineering, National Science Board
Dr. Richard W. Spinrad, Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic an...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27th - |
Nominees Confirmed
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate confirmed the following nominees by unanimous consent on July 24, 2009:
Ms. Mignon L. Clyburn, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Ms. Meredith Attwell Baker, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Ms. Deborah A.P. Hersman, to be Chairman and Member of the National Transportation Safety Board (N...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24th - |
Rockefeller Calls for Audit of General Motors and Chrysler Terminations
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller has requested the Special Inspector General of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) review the methodology of the General Motors (GM) and Chrysler decisions to terminate more than 2,000 dealership franchises across the country.
“There is substantial confusion, even among dealers themselves, as to how GM and Chrysler selected dealersh...
|
|
|
22nd - |
Chairman Rockefeller's Remarks on Advertising Trends and Consumer Protection
- With this hearing, the committee continues to highlight the Federal Trade Commission’s role in protecting the American people, especially at a time of unprecedented economic crisis. Last week, we explored the increasing frequency and danger of economic fraud and financial scams during tough times.
Today, we will examine deceptive advertising and its power to undermine consumers’ c...
|
|
|
|
|
22nd - |
Hearing Summary: Advertising Trends and Consumer Protection
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a subcommittee hearing today on Advertising Trends and Consumer Protection.
Witness List:
Mr. David Vladeck, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission
Ms. Sally Greenberg, Executive Director, National Consumers League
Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Director for Technical...
|
|
|
|
|
21st - |
Rockefeller Applauds Senate Commerce Committee's Approval of FAA Reauthorization Bill
- WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement today after legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was approved by the Commerce Committee:
“I am very pleased that this important legislation was quickly approved by the Committee and t...
|
|
|
21st - |
Chairman Rockefeller Applauds Senate Commerce Committee's Extension of Critical Highway Programs
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, worked today to extend critical highway and vehicle safety programs authorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
The Senate Commerce Committee approved a bill to extend the Nation...
|
|
|
21st - |
Executive Session Committee Legislation Summary
- Washington, D.C.—Today the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an Executive Session and favorably reported out the following legislation and nominees:
Nomination of Polly Trottenberg, to be Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy of the United States Department of Transportation (PN 549)
Nomination of Deborah A.P. Hersman, to be Chairman and Memb...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20th - |
Chairman Rockefeller on the 40th Anniversary of the First Moon Landing
- WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement today honoring the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing:
“Forty years ago, three brave NASA astronauts ventured into the unknown carrying an entire nation’s hopes and dreams with them. When Apollo 11 lan...
|
|
|
|
|
17th - |
Rockefeller and Hutchison Press DOT on Antitrust Immunity Cases
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the Ranking Member on the Committee, joined together and urged the Department of Transportation to exercise its long-held statutory authority and expertise to determine if applications for airline anti-trust immunity are in the publi...
|
|
|
|
|
16th - |
current Press Release |
|
|
|
|
15th - |
Chairman Rockefeller Alarmed by Magnitude of Cyber Attacks
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, sent letters to 11 different federal departments and agencies asking for information regarding their cybersecurity preparedness and the effectiveness of their incident response capability.
Chairman Rockefeller and Senator Snowe recently introduced bipa...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14th - |
Hearing Summary-The Economy and Fraud: Protecting Consumers During Downward Economic Times
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation continued the fight for American consumers and held a subcommittee hearing today on The Economy and Fraud: Protecting Consumers During Downward Economic Times.
Witness List:
The Honorable Chris Koster, Attorney General, State of Missouri
Mr. David Vladeck, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Fed...
|
|
|
14th - |
Rockefeller, Hutchison, Dorgan, Demint Introduce Bipartisan Aviation Bill
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Chairman of the Aviation Operations, Safety and Security Subcommittee Byron Dorgan (D-ND), and Ranking Member of the Aviation Operations, Safety and Security Subcommittee Jim DeMint (R-SC) joined together today to in...
|
|
|
|
|
13th - |
Chairman Rockefeller and Ranking Member Hutchison Statements on the Nomination of Chris Bertram
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV and Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison issued the following statements after Christopher P. Bertram was nominated to be Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs and Chief Financial Officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“Mr. Bertram brings a ...
|
|
|
|
|
10th - |
Chairman Rockefeller Adds Another Company to His Online "Mystery Charges" Investigation
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, announced a Senate Commerce Committee investigation on May 27, 2009 into certain e-commerce marketing practices that generate thousands of mysterious monthly charges to consumer credit cards.
Today, Senator Rockefeller sent a letter to the President of Affini...
|
|
|
9th - |
Hearing Summary: Nominations Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing yesterday on nominations.
Nominations Include:
Panel I
Mr. Charles F. Bolden, Jr., to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Ms. Lori Garver, to be Deputy Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
...
|
|
|
8th - |
Executive Session Committee Legislation Summary
- Washington, D.C.—Today the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an Executive Session and favorably reported out the following legislation:
S. 588, Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009
S. 649, Radio Spectrum Inventory Act
S. 668, Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2009
S. 1194, Coast Guard Authorizati...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audio Clip | Video Clip
|
|
|
|
|
|
|