Sunflower State News

U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) have introduced the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at increasing transparency in healthcare pricing. The proposed legislation would require hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, and clinical labs to publicly report negotiated rates, costs, and cash prices for their services.

Under the bill, group health plans would gain access to claims data without restrictions from third-party administrators. Providers and facilities would also be mandated to supply patients with a detailed itemized bill or an all-in total price for bundled services if such an option is offered.

Senator Marshall explained the rationale behind the legislation: “Customers don’t walk into a restaurant only to find out how much the food costs when they get the bill. Patients should know the price of the service they need before they make any decisions. Making America Healthy Again requires empowering Americans with the best information possible to inform their life and healthcare choices: the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act will ensure prices are available to patients to support a more competitive, innovative, affordable, and high-quality healthcare system.”

Senator Hickenlooper added: “You wouldn’t book a flight if you couldn’t find out the ticket price until you land — or check into a hotel without knowing if you’re paying for the Ritz or a dump. But that’s the absurd guessing game Americans play every time they need medical care. We deserve to know exactly what we are paying for whether it’s a lab test, a colonoscopy, or an MRI. Our bill gives Americans that peace of mind.”

The initiative has drawn support from patient advocacy groups and employer organizations. Cynthia Fisher, Founder and Chairman of Patients Rights Advocate said: “We applaud Senators Roger Marshall and John Hickenlooper for their strong, bipartisan leadership on the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act. With actual, upfront, and accountable prices, patients will be able to shop for the best care with protection from rampant overcharges hiding in the shadows. We urge all senators to support this bill and pass it without delay to protect America’s patients.”

James Gelfand, President and CEO of ERIC stated: “We applaud Senators Marshall and Hickenlooper for their ongoing commitment to enhancing health care price transparency requirements that will ensure employers have access to information necessary when making decisions on benefit design for the millions of Americans who receive coverage through their employer. Moreover, strong transparency requirements of providers, including hospitals, and plans will empower workers and their families to select high quality, affordable health care, drugs, and services, helping ease the ever-growing pressures health care costs have on employers and workers alike.”

Kevin Lyons from New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association commented: “Patients Deserve Price Tags Act is a critical step toward delivering high-quality care at lower costs for patients. Price transparency starts with clear, accessible information and this bill will empower patients to compare prices before they seek care. Real transparency and accountability are essential in helping unions make informed negotiations on behalf of workers and will ultimately help drive down costs. The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act moves us closer to that goal.”

Sophia Tripoli of Families USA also expressed support: “At a time when health care costs are ballooning out of control and Americans continue to make clear that affordability is a top priority, we applaud Senators Marshall and Hickenlooper for introducing the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act. This robust, pro-consumer, bipartisan legislation will ensure that every family in America knows exactly how much a big hospital will charge them before they receive medical care and services... The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act would bring much needed transparency to hospital pricing and help us hold the health care sector accountable for the unfair price gouging practices that are hurting patients and families.”