House Committee on Energy and Commerce chairman opens markup on health‑care price transparency, xylazine scheduling and community health center funding

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce opened a markup during which the committee chairman said members will consider a package of bills intended to increase price transparency in the health sector, address illicit drugs and expand allowable uses of community health center funding.

"Today's markup will further our efforts to lower health care costs for all Americans and safeguard our communities," the chairman said in prepared remarks, linking the session to earlier hearings and White House transparency initiatives. He noted the committee's work builds on recent subcommittee measures and laws enacted last year, including the Halt Fentanyl Act and the SUPPORT Act reauthorization.

The chairman described one principal measure, the Lower Cost, More Transparency Act, as a continuation of earlier transparency work. He said the bill would codify many regulations implemented by the Trump administration and would "require hospitals and providers to publicly post prices for their services" and standardize information about charges and services. The committee will also consider proposals aimed at increasing accountability and visibility in commercial and Medicare Advantage plans, including measures to disclose prior‑authorization approval and denial rates and to clarify how premium dollars are being spent.

The chairman explained the medical loss ratio (MLR) — "the percentage of premium dollars spent by an insurance company on medical care outside of administrative costs or profits," created under the Affordable Care Act — and said hearings suggested there is "a gaming of this accountability measure," arguing transparency could reveal how much premium dollars actually go to beneficiary care.

The markup will also consider illicit‑drug legislation. The chairman described the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which "would classify xylazine as a Schedule Three under [the] Controlled Substances Act while also protecting its legitimate use in large animal veterinary medicine." He said the bill is important to his district and cited the National Cattlemen's Association when noting the district's agricultural profile.

Another proposal, Tyler's Law, would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to study and issue guidance on whether hospitals should implement fentanyl testing in routine emergency department drug screenings, the chairman said.

The chairman also said the committee will take up bills involving community health centers, including a measure led by Vice Chairwoman Harshbarger that would permit some community health center funding to be used for nutrition education and chronic disease prevention.

The remarks provided an overview of items to be debated and refined between subcommittee and the full committee; the available transcript ends during the chairman's opening statement and does not record any formal motions or votes.