Through online tools like PricePoint and conversations with patients ahead of elective and scheduled procedures, Texas hospitals have long empowered health care consumers to make informed decisions about their medical care.

Although health care consumers consider a number of factors, in addition to price, when making health care decisions, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Aug. 1 proposed rules to require hospitals to disclose the negotiated amounts health insurers pay for health care services. The proposed rules are the result of President Donald Trump's June 2019 Executive Order directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to issue a rule requiring hospitals to disclose the amount health insurers and patients pay for health care services.

Good health care decision making should be a responsibility shared among Texas hospitals, physicians, insurers, employers and consumers alike. As with many issues in health care, price transparency is complex and requires engagement of all stakeholders along the continuum of care to ensure meaningful transparency for patients.

The Texas Hospital Association looks forward to working with HHS on the new policy and explaining the valid, economic reasons for why hospital prices vary and that hospital-health plan contract negotiations should remain private to avoid possible increases to health care spending.

Related: Surprise Billing

Contacts:

John Hawkins, senior vice president, advocacy and public policy, 512/465-1505

Sara Gonzalez, vice president, advocacy and public policy, 512/465-1596

Cameron Duncan, III, J.D., associate general counsel, 512/465-1539

Recent News:

THA Statement on Executive Order Requiring Hospitals to Disclose Prices