Reps. Michael Burgess, MD, (R-Texas) and Gene Green (D-Texas) introduced the bill, known as the Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2013, or HR 1326.
Along with price transparency rules for hospitals, the bill would require insurers to provide enrollees, upon their request, with a statement of estimated out-of-pocket costs for particular healthcare services.
The legislation also directs the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to study the types of healthcare price information consumers find most useful, and how this information might be distributed in a timely and simple manner.
The American Hospital Association has thrown its support behind the bill. AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock said patients should have “all available tools” to help them make decisions about their care, and that AHA will continue to work with Congress to share information that is helpful and valuable to patients. http://www.aha.org/presscenter/pressrel/2013/130326-pr-transparency.pdf
More Articles on Hospital Prices:
How Do American Healthcare Costs Stack Up Globally?
JAMA: Minimally Invasive Surgery Could Save $14B
AHA: Insurance Report on Hospital Prices a Cover for Premium Hikes
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