MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — Republican lawmakers introduce legislation to increase transparency in hospital pricing.
“The current experience is that patients do not know the cost of these services until months later, when they get their explanation of benefits from their insurance companies. So this needs to change. Patients in Wisconsin deserve better care. They deserve access to this information so that they can be educated healthcare consumers,” said Dr. Nicole Hemkes. She is owner and Medical Director of Advocate MD, a direct primary care practice in Madison.
In a release, the Wisconsin Hospitals Association says Wisconsin ranks first in the country in hospital price transparency.
The legislation authored by Senators Julian Bradley and Mary Felzkowski and Representative Bob Wittke, would require hospitals to publish clear, accessible pricing information online for both common procedures and the full range of hospital services.