Senator Bill Cassidy , MD , R - TX has put forward a series of proposals that he hopes will bring about a reduction in health care costs . The primary target of the proposal is transparency in drug pricing and elective medical care . The move comes at a time when health insurance premiums are rising along with the cost of care , and the senator has described the system ‘ unaffordable and unsustainable . ’ Cassidy currently serves on the Senate health and finance committees and has also endorsed short - term insurance plans , health savings accounts ( HSAs ) , while also combining Medicaid expansion ##s and individual marketplace risk pools . Transparency , however , is at the core of the plan to allow patients to assess prices before they choose their medical services . To this end , it calls for an end to pharmacy gag clauses , allowing Medicare to pay no more than the lowest - price drug in a class and pegging new medicines to an international number . Within the proposals is also a call for Congress to promote lower - cost care settings , such as ambulatory surgery centers , free - standing emergency rooms , and rural emergency centers . In addition , Cassidy declares the need for research into social determinants of health disparities and the consolidation of health care .
Senator Bill Cassidy, MD, R-Louisiana has put forward a series of proposals that he hopes will bring about a reduction in health care costs. The primary target of the proposal is transparency in drug pricing and elective medical procedures. The move comes at a time when health insurance premiums are rising along with the cost of care, and the Senator has called the system ‘unaffordable and unsustainable.’ Cassidy currently serves on the Senate health and finance committees and has also endorsed short-term insurance plans, health savings accounts (HSAs), while also combining Medicaid expansion funds and individual marketplace risk pools. Transparency, however, is at the heart of the plan to allow patients to assess prices before they choose their medical services. To this end, it calls for an end to pharmacy gag clauses, allowing Medicare to pay no more than the lowest-price drug in a class and pegging new medicines to an international number. Within the proposals is also a call for Congress to promote lower-cost care settings, such as ambulatory surgery centers, free-standing emergency rooms, and rural emergency centers. In addition, Cassidy declares the need for research into social determinants of health disparities and the consolidation of health care.