FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement attributable to:
Beth Feldpush, DrPH
Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy
America’s Essential Hospitals
WASHINGTON — We support transparency to foster patient empowerment and shared decision-making, but the administration’s approach would accomplish neither. Rather, it would unfairly advantage health plans in negotiations with providers and threaten essential hospitals’ ability to participate in networks and maintain access to services.
Information without context — for example, how and why the cost of patient care varies among hospitals — is of little practical use to consumers. Essential hospitals typically have higher costs due to their commitment to complex services vital to communities, such as trauma and behavioral health care.
Posting negotiated rates will not benefit consumers, adds an administrative burden that competes for resources with patient care, and can harm competition and drive up prices. These policies undermine hospitals’ ability to negotiate equitable payments while giving consumers little actionable information with which to make informed care decisions.
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About America’s Essential Hospitals
America’s Essential Hospitals is the leading champion for hospitals and health systems dedicated to high-quality care for all, including the most vulnerable. We support our more than 300 members with advocacy, policy development, research, and education. Communities depend on essential hospitals to provide specialized, lifesaving services; train the health care workforce; advance public health and health equity; and coordinate care. Essential hospitals innovate and adapt to lead the way to more effective and efficient care. Learn more at essentialhospitals.org.
Contact:
Carl Graziano
cgraziano@essentialhospitals.org
202.585.0102
