State Sen. Joe Hune (R) introduced the bill this week, saying it would allow consumers to compare prices charged by hospitals for potentially costly procedures. Sen. Hune said he was inspired to craft the legislation after reading Steven Brill’s “Bitter Pill” article in TIME earlier this year, according to the report.
Under the bill, Michigan’s Department of Community Health would fine hospitals $1,000 for each day they do not post their chargemaster. Hospitals that do not have websites would be required to make print or digital copies of the chargemaster available at their facilities.
Some critics argue that chargemaster prices will be confusing for consumers, as the figure reflects the hospital’s charge but not the price negotiated by insurance companies or reduced prices for low-income patients, according to the report.
More Articles on Price Transparency:
Apples and Oranges: 6 Different Types of Hospital “Costs”
Opening Up: How Pricing Transparency Will Change Hospital Benchmarking
Moody’s: CMS Price Transparency Report Has Long-Term Implications for Hospitals
