House committee advances bill letting insured apply lower cash prices to deductibles, requires plan price disclosures

House Bill 16-04, a market-driven price-transparency measure championed by Representative Maguire, won committee approval on a unanimous 11-0 voice vote after an amendment was adopted.

The bill would require health plans to publish the average discounted rates they negotiate with providers and create a clear process for insured people who pay a lower cash price to submit proof so that amount is applied to their deductible. Supporters framed the proposal as a way to let patients “shop” for care and to reward lower-cost providers without reducing patients’ coverage.

Proponents said the bill is modeled on the Cicero Institute’s Patient Right to Save initiative and is already law in several other states. Representative Maguire told the committee the bill “enhances price transparency and incentivizes patients to seek cost-effective care.” Josh Archambault, a senior fellow with Cicero Action,…