STAT+: Health system CEOs get off easy at Congressional hearing on affordability
Four health system CEOs appeared before the House Ways and Means Committee to discuss rising health care costs, but faced minimal scrutiny as lawmakers focused more on partisan blame than holding executives accountable. The hearing followed a previous session with health insurers, who had shifted cost concerns onto hospitals and drugmakers. With little direct questioning of the CEOs, the session underscored political gridlock in addressing health care affordability. The health systems represented included HCA Healthcare, CommonSpirit Health, New York-Presbyterian, and ECU Health.
- ▪The House Ways and Means Committee held the hearing to investigate the root causes of rising U.S. health care costs.
- ▪CEOs from HCA Healthcare, CommonSpirit Health, New York-Presbyterian, and ECU Health testified before Congress.
- ▪Lawmakers primarily criticized opposing parties’ health policies rather than pressing hospital executives on pricing practices.
- ▪This hearing followed a prior session where health insurer CEOs deflected blame for high costs onto hospitals and pharmaceutical companies.
- ▪The hearing highlighted ongoing challenges in achieving bipartisan action on health care affordability.
- ▪The CEOs faced limited questioning and did not undergo rigorous examination of their systems’ pricing or revenue practices.
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STAT PlusPolitics Health system CEOs get off easy at Congressional hearing on affordability Committee members seemed more interested in sniping at each other Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article New York-Presbyterian was one of four health systems represented at a hearing on hospitals and affordability on Tuesday.John Lamparski/Getty Images By Tara BannowApril 28, 2026 Hospitals and Insurance Reporter Tara Bannow[email protected]Tara Bannow covers hospitals, providers, and insurers. You can reach Tara on Signal at tarabannow.70. The four health system CEOs summoned before a Congressional committee Tuesday likely breathed sighs of relief early in the hearing, when it became clear they had friends in the audience.
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