Legislation brings sanity to ambiguous health cost system
OLYMPIA—Are you confident you’re paying a fair price for your health care?
Probably not. Right now, consumers enter a hospital for medical examinations or procedures with no ability to determine if they are overpaying for their health care. Most are not even given a clear idea what they will pay at all, until after a bill comes from the medical provider. Often those bills come after insurance has denied elements of the claim, despite the consumer having proper insurance coverage.
As more and more people access health insurance, the industry is moving away from a premium-heavy system and toward plans based on copays and cost-sharing, so it’s imperative that patients know the up-front costs they’ll face when they walk through a provider’s door.
In order to bring clarity and transparency to health care costs, State Rep. Eileen Cody (D-West Seattle) introduced HB 1437 at the request of Governor Inslee and is pleased to announce that the legislation has passed out of the Health Care & Wellness Committee.
Washington’s current all-payer health care claims database doesn’t offer a clear picture of how costs compare across different providers. Cody’s bill increases the effectiveness of the database by requiring insurers to submit claims, including the cost of procedures and services, and any data that is billed, allowed, and paid to providers. The new statewide all-payer claims database will assist patients, providers, and hospitals in making informed decisions about the care they choose to pursue, allow employers to identify the most valuable plans for their employees, and increase competition among providers.
“It’s insane to me that health care providers aren’t able to tell you how much your health care will cost when you walk through the door,” said Rep. Cody. “By passing this bill, we make competition in health care cost a reality and allow consumers to compare prices just like they do when buying a car. In the end, every Washingtonian deserves equal access to quality health care and having all the information is key to making important decisions about your health.”
“As a health care provider, I don’t have the ability to tell my patients what their procedures will cost. Being able to access that information and give them peace of mind that they’re receiving quality care at a fair price is important to me,” Cody added.