LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Jonathan Lindsey’s medical price transparency legislation passed the Michigan House of Representatives on Tuesday with unanimous bipartisan support.
“Prices for medical procedures, medications and services should be available to patients with easy-to-understand explanations of potential charges,” said Lindsey, R-Coldwater. “It’s very simple: People should have the right to know what they will be charged for and what options are available.”
Senate Bill 95 would require hospitals to publicly disclose the costs of treatments and operations and prohibit the collection of debts if a hospital is not in compliance with price transparency laws.
“Improving transparency in health care is an essential piece of enhancing health outcomes for patients,” Lindsey said. “Michiganders have been suffering from declining health outcomes for decades, and many families face significant financial burden when pursuing medical care. Price transparency, while not a complete solution, is a necessary tool to help reverse negative health trends, lower costs and make Michigan healthy again.”
Lindsey said he was happy to see his colleagues in both chambers recognize the need to pass meaningful health care reform and help get this legislation one step closer to the finish line.
“People expect their representatives in Lansing to do something to reel in out-of-control costs of medical care, and this bill takes a major step toward achieving that goal,” Lindsey said.
The bill, though it saw minor changes between chambers, was approved by the Senate and House with a combined 141 yes votes.
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