Washington, D.C., March 16, 2026 – The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), along with a coalition of allies in the employer community, wrote to lawmakers today praising the introduction of the bipartisan “Healthy Competition for Better Care Act.” The legislation promotes affordability and transparency in health care by prohibiting anticompetitive contract clauses between payers, providers, and hospitals that restrict marketplace competition. The statement below can be attributed to Melissa Bartlett, Senior Vice President of Health Policy for ERIC.
“With cost of care top of mind for patients, employers, and employees, consumers are continually looking for affordable health care services. Too often though, consolidation in the health care marketplace leads to costly contracts, limited choice, and little transparency. The Healthy Competition for Better Care Act drives health care value by incentivizing patients to choose high-quality, low-cost providers, and allowing employers to contract with hospitals and providers that make sense for them and their workforce, rather than being held hostage by a single affiliate that may have poor safety ratings. The legislation puts the consumer back in the driver’s seat and helps employers achieve greater health care affordability for their workforce and their families.”
In the House of Representatives, the original sponsors of the “Healthy Competition for Better Care Act” (H.R. 6248) include Reps. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Rick Allen (R-Ga.), Donald Davis (D-N.C.) and Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.). Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio) introduced the Senate companion earlier last week.
Read the full coalition letter here.