Committee hears hospital price-transparency bill as advocates and hospital groups clash

Summary

Supporters told the Senate Committee on Health Care that Senate Bill 1060 would give patients clear, comparable dollar prices for common hospital services; hospital associations and health systems warned the state-level law would duplicate federal rules, create administrative burden and risk confusing consumers.

Senate Bill 1060, a measure that would require Oregon hospitals to publicly disclose standard charges for medical services in clear dollar amounts and provide a state-level enforcement mechanism, drew sharply divided testimony at the Senate Committee on Health Care on March 27.

Proponents said the bill is intended to make it possible for Oregonians — especially people on high-deductible plans, the uninsured or underinsured — to see and compare the out-of-pocket cost they would face for “shoppable” services such as MRIs, elective surgeries and mammograms before receiving care. "This bill is essentially aimed at doing two things: making sure that when folks are out getting health care at a hospital, that they know the price upfront... and making sure hospitals in Oregon follow the rules that are already in effect," said State Representative Willie Choateson during the public hearing.

Senator Winswe Campos, the chief Senate sponsor,…

Committee hears hospital price-transparency bill as advocates and hospital groups clash

Summary

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