This week, the North Carolina Senate unveiled the Lower Healthcare Costs Act, and it just might be the most significant and far-reaching healthcare affordability and transparency legislation introduced anywhere in the country.
The bill takes multiple steps to lower healthcare costs and increase transparency so consumers have clear and accurate pricing information.
“We need to take serious steps to bring down the cost of healthcare in our state,” said bill sponsor Sen. Benton Sawrey. “North Carolinians are navigating an increasingly complex web of fees and jumping through hoops to get the care they need. These proposals look to break through that web from every angle to help make meaningful change for patients.”
North Carolina is the most expensive state for healthcare in the country.
To help address that, the Lower Healthcare Costs Act eliminates hospital facility fees from being charged at non-hospital settings.
Hidden costs like hospital facility fees charged at non-hospital settings drive up costs by billions. Families and businesses should not pay hospital fees when they do not use the hospital.
“I don’t know a single person who hasn’t received a medical bill that left them with more questions than answers,” said bill sponsor Sen. Jim Burgin. “It’s imperative that we do whatever we can to lower costs and help North Carolinians take charge of their healthcare decisions. We cannot sit idly by and let these fees and billing practices become the norm.”
The bill also makes sure patients have transparent, clear, and accurate information about the healthcare charges they receive.
The Lower Healthcare Costs Act:
- Addresses surprise out-of-network bills by ensuring patients are notified if anyone on their care team is out-of-network, and if they may receive a separate bill.
- Sets important consumer protections around medical debt by requiring an itemized disclosure of chargers prior to a bill being sent to collections.
- Allows patients to get an accurate estimate of any charges they will be obligated to pay before receiving care. Under the legislation, the patient’s bill cannot exceed 5 percent of that estimate.
“In order to make the best decisions for their care, patients need to have all of the information about their procedure at their fingertips,” bill sponsor Sen. Amy Galey said. “Shedding light on the true costs of healthcare is good for patients and providers. These proposals will provide much-needed transparency for North Carolinians when they’re making decisions about their health.”
North Carolina has a major healthcare cost problem that impacts our business climate, wages, hiring, and retirement.
It requires big solutions.
Healthcare in North Carolina will be better and more affordable if Senate Bill 316 is passed into law.
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