Should Hospitals Be Required To Post Their Prices Online?

Divvys Blog Readers (DBR), I think we can all relate to going to the doctor, and then the next thing you know, you’re hit with a bill with a whole bunch of surprises costs! There’s a new proposal to help tackle this problem and it involves hospitals posting their standard prices for patients online.

According to CNN Money, the new proposed rule was unveiled on Tuesday by the Trump administration but it actually builds on the Obama administration’s efforts to “increase transparency and shift toward paying for the overall health care value of the services provided, rather than simply for the services rendered.”

Officials are pushing for Americans to have better access to their medical records electronically, or the medical facility may have to face a penalty.

“The proposed rule is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ latest effort to give patients more information about the cost of health care and about their own medical history so they can better direct their own care,” CNN reports. “The posted prices, however, may not reflect the actual amount most patients pay since insurers and the government negotiate different rates and often cover a major portion of the bill.”

Would you prefer to know how much out-of-pocket costs you’ll need to pay before going to the doctor? Weigh in #Readers!