The House Energy and Commerce Committee on July 21, 2026, unanimously advanced the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (HR 9393), a wide-ranging healthcare package aimed at increasing transparency across the healthcare system, lowering prescription drug costs, and expanding access to care. The legislation would codify and expand federal healthcare price transparency requirements for hospitals and other providers, require additional disclosure from insurers about how premium dollars are spent, increase transparency around Medicare Advantage (MA) plan operations, make it easier for lower-cost biosimilar drugs to come to market, and expand behavioral health and nutrition services through community health centers.

During the markup, the committee amended the bill to incorporate several additional MA-related bills that LeadingAge highlighted following the June 25 Health Subcommittee markup:

• HR 3514, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, would streamline prior authorization in MA by requiring electronic prior authorization systems, standardized response timelines, and additional reporting on plan use of prior authorization. LeadingAge has supported this bill since its first introduction in 2019.
• HR 9392, the Medicare Advantage Cost Transparency Act, would require MA plans to provide clearer information on payment rates and cost sharing for beneficiaries.  More specifically and of interest to LeadingAge is that the bill would require MA plans to include the allowed amount for an item or service on an encounter claim beginning in 1/1/2027, which would provide more information about how much plans are paying providers and could allow for comparison of payments for similar services between MA and Medicare FFS. This could get us closer to determining provider payment adequacy in the MA program. The bill also grants CMS authority , tools and standardized data to evaluate and bring price transparency to the overhead costs and supplemental benefits offered by MA plans.
• HR 9396, the Prior Authorization Accountability Act, is also focused on prior authorization in commercial health plans, requiring the plans to publish a list of all items and services that require prior authorization, along with data on denial rates, appeals, and delays in care.  While this bill would not directly impact MA plans, we are monitoring it as a potential vehicle for MA related amendments to reform prior authorizations.
• HR 5243, would require more transparent reporting on the supplemental benefits offered by Medicare Advantage plans and the extent to which enrollees are actually utilizing these services. Better data on these benefits could improve understanding of how plans support social needs and how those offerings vary across plans.
• HR 9397, the Premium Transparency Act, would require health insurers to provide consumers with clearer information on how premium dollars are spent, including the share devoted to medical care versus administrative costs and profit.