Rising healthcare and hospital prices in New York City must be addressed by making such pricing more transparent, leading politicians in the city urged in a Feb. 26 amNY op-ed.
The city should follow the examples of states around the country and establish an Office of Healthcare Affordability, four New York City borough presidents wrote. The establishment of such an entity is part of a bill moving through the city's legislature with more than 75 percent support, they said.
"There is no denying that healthcare and hospital prices are already draining the city's budget and threatening financially strapped working people," the presidents wrote. Borough presidents are elected officials in New York City who advise the mayor and act as advocates for the five boroughs.
New York state ranks 47th out of 50 on hospital quality, the borough presidents wrote.
"Pricing accountability is a 'must' to lead the way to healthcare affordability, starting with passing the Healthcare Accountability & Consumer Protection Act into law, to give the City an entity that will be as strong as any disinfectant used by hospitals to finally clean up the mess of hospital pricing," they concluded.