Follow through on promise of medical price clarity
By The Herald Editorial Board
The last few weeks have made clear — tragically so following the high-profile murder of an insurance executive and the misguided support expressed by many for the alleged assailant — that Americans remain frustrated with issues of access and expense regarding their health care.
Even as the number of uninsured Americans between the ages of birth to 64 years of age has reached new lows thanks to the Affordable Care Act — dropping from 46.5 million in 2010 to 25.3 million in 2022 — complaints persist regarding access to that care, even for those with coverage; the lack of timely availability of providers; delays and denials of payment for care and the costs of that care.
Efforts in recent years by Congress and presidential administrations have attempted to address lagging deficiencies, notably with agency rules and laws that are supposed to provide price transparency for hospital procedures and services, and end surprise medical billing, which relies on clear pricing.
But full compliance with those mandates, at least in terms of price transparency, remains a work in progress.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-follow-through-on-promise-of-medical-price-clarity/