Senator Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) joined several of his colleagues on the Senate floor Thursday to present innovative ideas aimed at reducing health care costs, cutting red tape, and giving consumers better choices and more say in their care. One of those efforts, S.F. 13, would help Minnesotans better understand the cost of their care by requiring hospitals to provide consumers a full, itemized list of charges billed during the patient’s care.

“I think when we talk about health care expenses in Minnesota most people have no idea what their care costs or, more importantly, how their care is billed,” said Senator Eichorn. “I think that’s a tragic and scary situation, especially when you consider the sheer amount of money Minnesota residents spend on their care. This legislation would help to bring some light, giving Minnesotans the opportunity to understand what their hospital service and procedures costs while also ensuring that they are not fronting the bill for services they have never received.”

The proposal would require that the hospital bill arrives within 30 days of the patient’s discharge in an accessible form without any overly technical terms or nondescript labels like “miscellaneous charge” or “supply charge.” Hospitals can provide this bill through either a secure email system or a secure online portal, and alternatively, patients can request a paper statement if they would prefer. The bill terms do not apply to individuals on Medicare, Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, or a self-insured employer plan.