The price disclosure bill is going to be heard this Wednesday by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. SB1115 and a companion ballot referral, in case of a Gubernatorial veto, SCR 1002 are on the Committee’s agenda.
The bill is intended to ensure transparent pricing in the health care market when one chooses to pay directly – not through a third party – for health care services. The right to purchase health care directly is guaranteed in the AZ Constitution- the Health Care Freedom Act – but supporter say that right is being is being thwarted in practical application by the industry.
Senator Nancy Barto believes that the bill ensures patients can obtain these prices upon request. This year’s bill has a “sunset” provision, as well, should price availability will become the norm and a law won’t be necessary in the future.
Barto says that Obamacare will not lower the cost of health care or insurance. In a statement released Monday, she argues that “exponentially higher premiums can be expected because of the law’s expensive mandated benefit coverage and high utilization of health care services. Price disclosure will allow health care consumers to consider the real cost of health care – a critical missing element in today’s health care industry – and help bring about a patient-centered competitive health care market – the missing element in today’s third-party payer & government-focused health care industry.”
While Hospitals are becoming more transparent regarding some of their pricing practices, they do not provide direct pay (cash – without third party involvement) pricing information. It is believed that direct pricing information will help meet the needs of many patients with ‘health savings accounts’, ‘health reimbursement accounts’ and high deductible policies.
Barto is urging small, medium or large businesses, who are concerned about increasing health care & insurance costs to contact their representatives. Barto believes she has the votes in committee, but a “good showing” doesn’t hurt her chances for success.