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

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'…

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…

when insurance companies host ghost networks, they are selling health coverage under false pretenses.

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

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

I'm always an advocate for greater transparency that allows consumers and advocates to compare plans.

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.

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

It's time for that to change.

I believe, certainly, greater transparency, for example, ought to be an easy one for members of this committee to get around.

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…

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.

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.

I look forward to working with Ranking Member Crapo and every member of the committee to get more of our hard work across the finish line so more families can get mental health care when they need it.

It's time for that to change.

when insurance companies host ghost networks, they are selling health coverage under false pretenses.

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.