WALLY HERGER: “The time to act is now. I would urge all of my colleagues to cosponsor The Death Tax Inflation Adjustment Act.”

While I believe that market approaches hold great promise for improving the situation, my intent is to use the information we learn from this hearing as a starting point for further assessment of the consolidation issue.

Unfortunately, the Democrats' health law slashed payments to the Medicare Advantage program by more than $300 billion over the next 10 years to fund ObamaCare.

These cuts will significantly alter the program and jeopardize seniors' access to the health plans they rely on.

The issue of consolidation warrants this subcommittee's attention as all health care cost drivers need to be closely examined, especially in this challenging economic and budget environment.