Congress continues to seek ways to reduce costs and increase price transparency for health-care consumers.

Late last week, three House committees – Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce – introduced the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. The proposed legislation would require hospitals, payers, labs, imaging providers and ambulatory surgical centers to use machine-readable files to list prices they will charge patients. It also mandates that insurers and pharmacy benefit managers disclose drug rebates and discounts.

House members hope the bill will lower out-of-pocket costs for seniors who receive medicine at a hospital-owned outpatient facility; expand access to generic drugs; and help employers give workers the best information possible.