In the interest of protecting patient choice and encouraging lower overall costs through greater competition in the health care marketplace, we have come together to express our concern for the Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2011 (H.R. 451) introduced by Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK). As with similar legislation introduced into previous congresses, we remain concerned that this measure would only serve to impose an unnecessary and costly burden on this nation’s health care providers and would do so by asserting federal control over anti-fraud matters already well regulated by the states and other agencies.
The alleged aim of the legislation is to ensure that patients receive accurate health care information by "…prohibiting misleading and deceptive advertising or representation in the provision of health care..." While we fully agree that patients ought to receive accurate health care information, commercial fraud and misrepresentation of professional licensure and services – including health care – are already prohibited by laws enforced by statutes in all 50 states, territories and the District of Columbia. Further, it is illegal in every state, and enforced by federal and state authorities, for any person (or entity) to identify or portray themselves as being able to practice any of the professions where a license or certification is required, without holding that license or certification.
Click below to read the full letter to members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce opposing HR 451.
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