Our secret shoppers were only able to get an appointment 18 percent of the time.

In my view, eliminating ghost networks is going to require a three-legged approach: more audits, greater transparency, and stronger consequences for insurance companies that don't keep their directories up to date.

The results were clear. Our secret shoppers could get an appointment--now this is after people had paid vast sums--they could get an appointment only 18 percent of the time.

In a moment of national crisis about mental health, with the problems growing at such a rapid rate, the widespread existence of ghost networks is unacceptable.

It's time for that to change.

In my view, it's a breach of contract for insurance companies to sell their plans for thousands of dollars each month while their product is unusable due to a ghost network.

The Behavioral Health Network and Directory Improvement Act (S. 5093), introduced last Congress by Senator Smith and Chairman Wyden, would require audits of plans' provider directories.

I am going to work with all of my colleagues here on both sides, Democratic and Republican, to get some real accountability for these patients who pay good money for mental health coverage and then find that there is very little 'there'…

The fact is, these Americans are being ripped off by what the Government Accountability Office has described as a 'ghost network.'

It is a breach of contract for insurance companies to sell their plans worth thousands of dollars each month, while their product is unusable.

Chairman Wyden highlighted during the hearing, Senate Finance Committee staff operating as 'secret shoppers' could successfully make appointments only 18% of the time.

When someone who's worried about their mental health or the mental health of a loved one finally works up the courage to pick up the phone and try to get help, the last thing they need is a symphony of 'please hold' music, non-working…

Too often Americans who need affordable mental health care hit a dead end when they try to find a provider that is covered by their insurance. Ghost networks mean that the lists of mental health providers in insurance company directories…

In any other business, if a product or service does not meet expectations, consumers get a refund.

What a ghost network is all about is essentially selling health coverage under false pretenses.

Well, thank you. And if there are no other statements, the hearing record will be open until close of business on May 17th, 2023.

And with that, this hearing is adjourned.

I appreciate my colleagues' newfound concern for the environment and for the industry. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record correspondence from the solar industry in the United States opposing their resolution and supporting our position…