Tucked into the massive COVID bill that Congress passed before Christmas was an important step forward for patients wanting more price transparency, that received almost no media attention. As debate begins again on another bill, Congress needs to build on that momentum and add additional price transparency for patients.
The first time around, most of the headline ink was spilled on the debate on fixing “surprise billing”—which happens, for example when an out-of-network anesthesiologist knocks a patient out for surgery, and bills the patient separately even though the patient is laying on a gurney at an in-network facility.
However, for most patients, every health care bill feels like a surprise these days. That is why three little-discussed price transparency provisions tucked into the Christmas COVID bill matter.
Congress Needs To Build On Its Previous Half Win On Transparency In Next COVID Bill
Tucked into the massive COVID bill that Congress passed before Christmas was an important step forward for patients wanting more price transparency, that received almost no media attention. As debate begins again on another bill, Congress needs to build on that momentum and add additional price transparency for patients.
The first time around, most of the headline ink was spilled on the debate on fixing “surprise billing”—which happens, for example when an out-of-network anesthesiologist knocks a patient out for surgery, and bills the patient separately even though the patient is laying on a gurney at an in-network facility.
However, for most patients, every health care bill feels like a surprise these days. That is why three little-discussed price transparency provisions tucked into the Christmas COVID bill matter.