CEOs face congressional hearing on high hospital prices
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CEOs face congressional hearing on high hospital prices CEOs of four health systems testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday morning. Policy and Legislation By Susan Morse , Executive Editor | April 28, 2026 | 11:18 AM From left: Sam N. Hazen, CEO of HCA Healthcare, Wright Lassiter III, president and CEO of CommonSpirit Health, Brian G. Donley, president and CEO of New York Presbyterian, Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health and Brad Woodhouse, president of advocacy organization Protect Our Care Photo: Susan Morse screenshot/House Ways and Means Committee The CEOs of four health systems testified before the House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday in a hearing about the high price of healthcare. Sam N. Hazen, CEO of HCA Healthcare, Wright Lassiter III, president and CEO of CommonSpirit Health, Brian G. Donley, president and CEO of New York Presbyterian, Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health and Brad Woodhouse, president of advocacy organization Protect Our Care, testified.“Simply put, hospitals are charging an insane amount for care. Hospital prices have skyrocketed 300% in just over two decades – more than any other sector of our economy.,” said Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo). “Hospital consolidation and mergers, that lead to ever-growing market power, are fueling the borderline extortionary prices hospitals charge patients.” Of 4,500 hundred hospitals, 2,000 have undergone a merger, Smith said. “The result is that today, 90% of hospital beds are part of a health system,” he said. “The pace and scale of mergers have led to market concentration that puts patients at the mercy of hospital empires. When hospitals have no competition, it’s no wonder that the sky seems to be the limit for prices.”Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA) countered that the cost of healthcare - in which technology helps to drive cost - is not just about the providers but about legislative policies. “There’s never been a Republican agreement on healthcare,” Neal said. Hazen, who was the first to testify, said that last year HCA provided 4.5 billion in uncompensated and charity care. The reality of healthcare today is that it is too expensive for many people, Hazen said.Hazen said there are three ways to bring down costs including: ensuring stable health insurance coverage; having fair competition by revisiting laws such as Certificate of Need; and by lowering administrative complexity.In this way, Hazen said, “all participants work towards a shared goal.”Tuesday’s hearing followed a series of seven congressional hearings this month centered on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. RFK Jr. testified on the administration’s agenda, Medicare Advantage, prior authorizations, site-neutral Medicare payment, 340B, price transparency, vaccines and more.Email the writer: [email protected] Topic: Accounting & Financial Management, Operations, Policy and Legislation