Bill Overview
Title: Expose Hospitals Violating Price Transparency Act
Description: This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to publish a list of hospitals that are not in compliance with the hospital price transparency rule, which requires hospitals to provide clear, accessible pricing information online about the items and services they provide. The list must include any hospitals that have received a written communication from the CMS about potential noncompliance. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on compliance and enforcement of the price transparency rule, including recommendations for improving price transparency to patients, employers, and the public.
Sponsors: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN]
Target Audience
Population: People needing hospital services globally
Estimated Size: 250000000
- The bill involves the healthcare sector, specifically hospitals under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
- Price transparency directly affects patients needing hospital services, enabling them to make informed financial decisions regarding their care.
- This could potentially influence healthcare costs and patient satisfaction, impacting all hospital users, indirectly benefiting families or employers who pay for these services.
- Considering CMS oversees hospitals in the United States, the primary impact is on individuals using hospital services in the U.S.
- Globally, other countries may indirectly benefit if their hospitals follow suit with price transparency efforts, but the direct effects concern U.S. hospitals and patients.
Reasoning
- The policy mainly impacts patients who require access to hospital services, as transparency may alter their financial decisions.
- Hospitals with non-compliance may face exposure which can prompt behavioral changes to avoid negative publicity.
- The short-term impact of this policy will relate to awareness and financial decisions, whereas long-term impacts could include systemic transparency improvements in healthcare costs.
- The policy is budget-constrained, meaning it must focus on high-impact, low-cost measures like public disclosure of non-compliance.
- To maximize efficacy, the CMS must efficiently target non-compliant hospitals without spreading resources too thin.
Simulated Interviews
insurance broker (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy will make hospitals more accountable.
- Transparency in pricing can help people make better healthcare decisions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
retired engineer (Austin, TX)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I might be able to plan my expenses better if I know the hospital costs beforehand.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
digital artist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm supportive of transparency but don't expect this to impact me much immediately.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
hospital administrator (Cleveland, OH)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy puts pressure on us but also values transparency which long-term can improve trust.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
small business owner (Chicago, IL)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This can help me understand our healthcare costs better and plan accordingly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
graduate student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A useful policy but not something I will likely benefit from soon.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
single parent, part-time worker (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing what things cost might help me choose the right hospital if needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
stay-at-home parent (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 31 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This might ease some of our healthcare financial planning.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
high school teacher (Boston, MA)
Age: 59 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I value transparency, but this might not change my experience quickly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
health journalist (Miami, FL)
Age: 43 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An important step for accountability in the healthcare sector, though I'm skeptical of the pace of change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $14000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $19000000)
Year 3: $13000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $18000000)
Year 5: $12000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $17000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $16000000)
Year 100: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $1500000)
Key Considerations
- Compliance with hospital price transparency could face logistical and technical challenges, potentially affecting the timeline of implementation.
- The effectiveness of publication efforts relies heavily on the quality and accessibility of the information provided and on public awareness strategies.
- Ongoing evaluation and adaptive management will be crucial for responding to compliance issues and ensuring that transparency efforts lead to meaningful improvements.
- The administrative burden on CMS and GAO needs to be balanced with potential efficiency gains through streamlined processes or technological enhancements.