Madison Reporter

On Tuesday, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at enforcing transparency in healthcare costs. This directive sets a 90-day deadline for the Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to devise a plan to implement Trump's 2019 order. The original mandate requires health insurers and hospitals to disclose details about healthcare costs.

Rachel Ver Velde, Associate Vice President of Government Relations & Senior Political Advisor at Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), responded positively to the executive order. She stated: "WMC applauds President Trump’s efforts to bring badly needed transparency to healthcare costs. Wisconsin has the fourth highest hospital prices in the country, and we will never be able to lower prices unless we allow patients to make market-based spending decisions based on cost and quality."

Ver Velde emphasized that access to transparent pricing is essential for patients making informed decisions that could reduce healthcare costs for both employers and employees. She noted that enforcement of this policy is crucial, as only thirty percent of Wisconsin hospitals currently comply with existing transparency rules.

Furthermore, WMC expressed satisfaction with the focus on consumer-friendly services rather than relying on price estimator tools. Ver Velde remarked: "With strong enforcement, President Trump’s Executive Order on transparency will be a game-changer for healthcare affordability."