The bill would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study certain contract clauses between health insurers and health care providers. These include clauses that may limit steering patients to other providers, placing providers in different network tiers, sharing price or quality information, or contracting with only part of a provider group. Within 18 months after enactment, GAO would study how these clauses relate to health care industry consolidation, prices, and access to care. It would also review actions by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, assess their ability and resources to enforce antitrust laws, and recommend actions if needed. GAO would send its report to specified House and Senate committees.
The bill would require a study; it would not itself ban these contract clauses or change health coverage. The study would examine their possible effects on consumer prices and access to care. No publicly available information explains how the findings might affect individuals.
The bill does not specify costs or funding for the study.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.