Friends and Neighbors,
Last week, the President fulfilled his promise to increase transparency and accessibility to health care costs.
An Executive Order signed by the President last June directed various federal agencies to change rules and regulations in order to make sure information on health care costs is readily available. According to Friday’s press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration finalized a rule that requires “hospitals to provide patients with clear, accessible information about their ‘standard charges’” for any items or services they provide patients beginning in 2021. The Administration is also proposing a rule change for “Transparency in Coverage” that will give most people access to price and cost-sharing information from their insurer to allow for comparison and price-shopping.
Bills authored by Senator Rich Draheim that made the same changes to empower Minnesotans were passed and signed into law this year.
Health care costs impact Minnesotans every day. We believe you deserve to know what you are paying for so you can make informed decisions for you and your family. It is our goal to improve the insurance market without raising taxes and growing more bureaucracy. We are committed to simplifying the health care and protecting your freedom to determine your own care.
If you are interested in additional information, the Administration provided the following resources:
- Fact sheet on the Calendar Year (CY) 2020 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) & Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Price Transparency Requirements for Hospitals to Make Standard Charges Public final rule (CMS-1717-F2): https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/cy-2020-hospital-outpatient-prospective-payment-system-opps-policy-changes-hospital-price
- Fact sheet on the Transparency in Coverage Proposed Rule (CMS-9915-P), please visit: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/transparency-coverage-proposed-rule-cms-9915-p
- The final rule (CMS-1717-F2) can be viewed here – PDF
- The proposed rule (CMS‑9915‑P) can be viewed here – PDF
Please contact me any time with your questions or suggestions at sen.mary.kiffmeyer@senate.mn or 651-296-5655.
We want the insurance market to work for you and we encourage your involvement!
Sincerely,
Mary