government
House bill would order hospitals to detail costs
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 4, 2012
Hospitals would be required to disclose more information about the costs of their health care services before patients receive them under a House bill introduced on May 18.
The Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act would direct states to draft laws requiring the disclosure of hospital charges and out-of-pocket costs for services. The bill would empower consumers to make smart health care choices, said the measure’s co-sponsors, Reps. Michael Burgess, MD (R, Texas), and Gene Green (D, Texas).
“Patients could review their options with up-front information about the costs of a medical procedure and other expenses in health care services,” Dr. Burgess said. “A patient should be able to know what they are buying and how much they will pay out-of-pocket. Arming patients with cost information is an important step in improving our country’s health care system, with the focus on the patient.”
The lawmakers cited a Government Accountability Office report stating that cost information is helpful to patients but that reliable data on costs often are difficult to find. The American Hospital Assn. supports the bill.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/06/04/gvbf0604.htm.
