FREOPP-PPI Event: Restoring Competitive Hospital Markets
A November 20, 2019 symposium on Capitol Hill featuring Ben Ritz of the Progressive Policy Institute, Avik Roy of FREOPP, and Rep. Bruce Westerman.
The rising cost of health care affects everyone.
The high cost of health care continually polls as one of the top three concerns of Americans voters. Research has found that these costs are not the result of differences in demographics or utilization; rather, our high costs are primarily a result of high prices for treatment. Consolidation of providers, particularly hospitals, and other anti-competitive practices exacerbate the problem. What new policy tools could the government use to control rising costs while leaving intact the hybrid system of private and public insurance that polls show the voters overwhelmingly prefer preserving?
Congressman Bruce Westerman (R., Ark.) will open the event with an overview of the Fair Care Act. Ben Ritz and Avik Roy will follow, with brief presentations of their key proposals to increase competition and reduce health care prices. Ritz and Roy will then join an informative panel discussion with Shawn Bishop, formerly of the Commonwealth Fund and the Senate Finance Committee, moderated by Bill Hoagland of the Bipartisan Policy Center.
When: Wednesday, November 20th, 2019–11:30 am til 1:00 pm.
Where: Capitol Visitor Center, Congressional Meeting Room — North — CVC 268
What: A panel discussion on bipartisan solutions to restore competitive hospital markets and reduce health care prices.
For security reasons, if you are not a Congressional staffer or member, registration is essential. Please register here.
A light lunch will be served. Please RSVP by Monday, November 18th to allow us to properly prepare.
Further reading
Funding America’s Future: A Progressive Budget for Equitable Growth (Ben Ritz and Brendan McDermott, PPI)
Improving Hospital Competition: A Key to Affordable Health Care (Avik Roy, FREOPP)
Bruce Westerman’s Fair Care Act: Market-Based Universal Coverage (Avik Roy, FREOPP)
