Washington, D.C. (March 18, 2026) – Charlene MacDonald, President and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals, released the following statement ahead of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee’s hearing focused on lowering health care costs. 

“Hospitals witness the affordability crisis playing out every day — out-of-pocket costs continue to rise and families worry their coverage won’t be there when they need it. It’s time to fix what’s not working.

“Our hospitals treat every patient who walks through their doors and have made significant investments in tools that help patients understand their costs and make informed health care decisions. Lowering patients’ costs requires coverage that actually works —and that means addressing benefit designs that leave patients exposed to high out-of-pocket costs and bringing real accountability and transparency to how vertically integrated insurers are using premium dollars.”

Read FAH’s Statement for the Record to the Committee here.