Governor Jan Brewer outraged her base last week when she vetoed a bill which would have increased transparency in medical costs. Brewer’s closest advisor, Chuck Coughlin, serves as a lobbyist for hospitals, and they objected strenuously to the exposure the legislation would have caused.
Senator Barto, who had initially proposed the legislation, is giving Brewer another chance to increase transparency for patients. On Monday, Barto revived the legislation by tacking it on to HB2045 (AHCCCS; hospital reimbursement methodology). The Senate approved the bill 19-10 on third read according to the Yellow Sheet.
Senator Barto’s proposed bill would have required health care providers to provide cost lists for their top 25 most common services, and for health care facilities to provide a cost sheet for their 50 most common services upon request.
Brewer claimed the definition of “health care facility” was too broad in a letter explaining her veto.
“We did make some of the clarifying changes that the governor addressed in her veto letter, about the tribal considerations that really weren’t a problem, but we clarified that they’re not going to be affected, so apart from that, any concerns that she has I think she’ll be fine with at this point,” Barto told the Yellow Sheet.
Last year, Ted Vogt proposed similar legislation, but Brewer had former state Senate president, Steve Pierce, hold the legislation and it never saw any action on the floor.