Washington, D.C. (January 21, 2026) – Ahead of tomorrow’s Capitol Hill hearings focused on health care affordability, the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) released the following statement:
Health care affordability continues dominating headlines. But it’s not a new story line for nonprofit, community-based health plans. They’ve been leading the conversation and doing the work, day in and day out. By putting patients over profits, local provider-aligned plans deliver coverage and care that’s more affordable, more accessible and higher quality than non-ACHP plans.
Since our first Annual Report on Affordability in Health Care in 2021, ACHP has shown how provider-aligned plans prioritize their members and local communities by focusing on prevention, coordination and value-based care.
Through innovative programs and patient-centered approaches, ACHP members routinely demonstrate that better care doesn’t have to cost more – and often generates significant savings for patients, employers and the government:
• Medication adherence programs generate measurable annual savings: $1,000+ per diabetes patient, $3,025 per hypertension patient, $2,000 per cholesterol patient—and cut hospital readmissions by over 20%.
• Premium efficiency—94 cents of every dollar go directly to patient care.
• Managing rising drug costs through biosimilars saves millions monthly without compromising outcomes.
• Value-based care —one ACHP plan achieved $100 million in savings and cut high-risk hospital readmissions by 70% over three years.
• Hospital-at-home programs save millions while keeping patients safe and satisfied.
• Price transparency tools help patients understand costs upfront, reducing out-of-pocket spending.
These aren’t abstract numbers; they are real results achieved by community health plans partnering directly with clinicians to keep the focus on outcomes instead of volume.
As Congress debates the 2026 health care agenda, premium tax credits, Medicare Advantage reforms and rising drug costs, ACHP and its members are ready to partner on solutions that protect affordability, strengthen local markets and put patients first. Our goal is simple: make health care better, smarter and more affordable for everyone.
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About ACHP
The Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) represents the nation’s best local, nonprofit health plans, providing high-quality coverage to tens of millions of Americans in 40 states and D.C. ACHP is the only national organization advancing a unique partnership model of coverage and care that fosters a truly competitive market.
We believe Americans deserve the best health care in the world. Our members are on the ground in your communities, delivering innovative and competitive coverage. ACHP’s model brings together clinicians and health plans to deliver value for patients, employers and taxpayers.
