Trump announces rule requiring hospitals to reveal rates

https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/15/politics/hospital-insurer-rates-transparency-trump/index.html
Part of a larger transparency push aimed at reducing health care costs, the controversial requirement has already raised the ire of the powerful industry. Four hospital groups quickly promised to file a legal challenge, arguing the rule exceeds the administration's authority.

Under the final rule, which stems from an executive order Trump issued this summer, hospitals will have to make public by 2021 the rates they negotiate with insurers and the amounts they are willing to accept in cash for an item or service. In addition, they must provide this information in an online, searchable way for 300 common services, such as X-rays, outpatient visits, Cesarean deliveries and lab tests.

Hospitals that don't comply will face a civil penalty of up to $300 a day.

Policy that has been sorely needed for a long time, maybe now consumers can make informed choices on their healthcare. We need more legislation that benefits all Americans and should be celebrated by individuals on both sides of the isle.

Healthcare industry is already suing to prevent basic levels of transparency that is expected and demanded in all other industries. Just toes to show they do not care about your health — just profits. In my opinion $300 a day is far too low. $109,000.00 a year will likely be an acceptable line item loss for many healthcare systems.

 

Price cutting is fine cost cutting not so good

 

I’ve always thought hospitals should have to put their grades and inspections in a highly visible place — we expect it from restaurants but not from places that negligence can easily kill us.

 

They should

We have the https://www.achs.org.au/

But individual reports are not available.

 

I watched his speech on this Friday. He said the insurance companies are next. They will be required to post what the pay for services.

As a libertarian, I am not in favor of government intervention and force being used on what should be a private transaction. That said, this policy will actually incentivize competition amongst healthcare providers and eventually between insurers. At this point, it is something we can tolerate.

 

This is interesting. Under what authority is the rule enforced?

 

Aren’t profits supposed to do that?

 

Sure, but this will do so as well, and in the process it should end up making the providers lower prices to attract more patients.

 

Healthcare isn’t like most industry.
If you want a car you can go to dealers, test drive various makes and model, are informed of the price, can compare that price online.
With emergency healthcare you are rushed to the nearest place, treated and then given a bill with imaginary numbers. The alternative is to die.

 

Totally stupid , idiotic, unfeasible, unworkable and useless idea.
Scenario: Your child or wife or mother is rushed to the ED. So are you going to ask what are your CT SCAN, MRI, PET SCAN , Ultragraphy rates? How about your anesthisiologist vs RN Anestocist rates? What about IV hook up and cardio monitor rates. What is your radiology consultation rate?
How about ER rates is that per hour or combined. What is your echo cadiogram rate ?
How about tumor biopsy, stent placement , angiography, neglect biopsy, and tumor ablation rates?

What are your radiology consultation rates?
Show me your drug formulary and your drug application rates. What are your room rates.
How about venous access catchers placement rates?

Anyone going to ask those question while your child is laying in a stretcher in pain? Really?

For elective surgery such as breat augmentation or penal extension surgery ok ask those questions you are going to pay 100% of that.

 

Emergency care would likely not be impacted much — especially during initial implementation.
The last sentence is why this is such a great idea, more information is always beneficial.

So are you against of for this, your post didn’t really seem to answer — it started off with “stupid , idiotic, unfeasible, unworkable and useless idea” and ended with “ok ask those questions”.

 

The whole reason for doing this sailed right over your head.

 

No it did not. It is nothing but a Trumpian BS Fake solution put out there for distraction.

 

My point is that this may be fine for elective cosmetic surgery or treatment that you pay 100% out of pocket for.

Seriously if your family member needs medicate for a life threatening condition or a condition that could render them paralyzed are you going to duck around with rates?

 

Medical care is not a raw resource or a manufactured product or a real estate purchase.

Medical services do not respond to classical supply and demand economic principles.

It is almost as foolish as trying to decide whether to respond to a &-11 terrorist the attack. Asked on military and Intel costs.

 

Well done Trump.

More transparency is a good thing!

 

I've wanted this for a long time.

I wish it was coming now, not 2021.

even my local dr. office finds it difficult if not impossible to give me standard rates even for a physical. they know my copays. but actual charges are always a mystery. try it sometim . they will look at you weird just for asking

 

Agree!

 

It's interesting to see the libs baulk on this. It would obviously cut the cost of heath care, and eventually health insurance. It's strikes me as completely idiotic that hospitals can charge $400 for a piece of plastic breathing piece of crap that you can buy for $4 on Amazon. But for some reason, the libs don't feel the need to regulate this and actually fight to keep it going.

Yes, free market should take care of this kind of thing but the free market has been silenced by secret price negotiations and government insurance. I would also require that the government publish the prices that they will pay for most procedures. If we were talking about military spending, the libs would be totally for it but since it's medical care, they suddenly don't care about spending.

 

Had Obama did this, they would be singing his praises but they will just continue the "Trump has done nothing" meme.

 

A good start but a day $300 fine is hardly going to compel hospitals to comply.

 

Look at all the conservatives supporting trump releasing his tax returns! I agree, more transparency is a good thing!

 

I like it, but...how can a President force private companies to do, basically, anything? How can this be within Presidential power?

 

I like it!
Prices should be standardized. Sometimes I see discounts over 50% on some of my health insurance reports and think they should be extended to everyone. Charging a patient $30 for 2 Tylenol pills is above and beyond any reason.

 

totally agree, I'm hoping media would point them out for non compliance.

$300 a day is joke to a hospital.