29 States Get ‘F’ Grade for Healthcare Price Transparency

 

Three-quarters of U.S. states get a poor grade when it comes to requiring healthcare providers to clearly indicate the price of their services, according to a new report.

“Wonder why you can’t get a straight answer on how much a healthcare procedure will cost you? One big reason: State laws which allow hospitals and other providers to keep costs hidden until they send you the bill,” Kaiser Health News observes.

Kaiser cites a study by the Catalyst for Payment Reform, a consortium of healthcare purchasers such as GE and Wal-Mart, and the Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute.

The study has produced a “Report Card on State Price Transparency Law,” which gives 29 states an “F” grade and seven states a “D” mark for policies that keep patients in the dark on prices. The “F” grade goes to states with virtually no transparency requirements.

“The grades reflect the quality and scope of the pricing data that states require and how well they disseminate it,” Kaiser explains. “Public websites gain high points, for example.”

The report notes: “States can play an important role in ensuring that consumers have access to both quality and price information by setting policies and implementing laws that advance transparency. The most comprehensive, consumer-friendly laws ensure ready access to information and data about a broad range of providers and services.”

Only two states, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, receive an “A” grade on the report card.

Five states receive a “B” grade — Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Seven states get a “C” — Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Nevada, South Dakota, Utah, and Vermont. All other states receive an “F” or a “D” grade.

Kaiser adds that most Americans are not aware of the huge variation in healthcare prices, offering the example of a California market where knee replacement surgery can cost from $15,000 to $100,000 depending on the hospital, “with no discernible difference in quality.”

The report concludes: “Consumers deserve to have as much information about the price of their healthcare as they do about restaurants, cars, and household appliances.”

 

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