Like so many other people and families across the nation, I have become all-too acquainted with the challenges posed by exorbitant medical costs as I experience a need for unexpected health care in the last few months. The relentless rise in health care expenses has had an impact on my family and cast a shadow over countless others across the state. There’s a profoundly concerning health care affordability crisis in our communities, and lawmakers need to do more to address it.

Of course, the repercussions of high medical expenses reach far beyond stretched family budgets. A 2021 Altarum study revealed that individuals are delaying seeking life-saving medical services, essentially forgoing preventive care because it’s too expensive. More action needs to be taken at the federal level to set the tone on addressing this crisis. And one area our lawmakers can tackle is unfair billing that drives health care costs even higher.

This unfair practice occurs when medical facilities consolidate. These takeovers monopolize markets and lower competition. Additionally, pricing at the newly consolidated facilities is higher for patients. This is hard for patients given the pressures of inflation and a challenging economy, and it is incumbent upon our leaders in Congress, like Sen. Casey and Sen. Fetterman, to address this issue. Supporting the Site-based Invoicing and Transparency Enhancement Act (SITE) is the best way to do so, as it will expand site-neutral payments and increase transparency in hospital billing.

If this action is taken in Congress, we can start to alleviate the mounting financial burden on families struggling to afford care and build a healthier future for our state.

Shelli Bird

Saylorsburg