On Thursday, Wisconsin legislators introduced the Price Transparency for Patients Act, a bill that mandates hospitals to disclose pricing information to consumers. The legislation was announced by Senator Julian Bradley (R-New Berlin), Senator Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma), and Representative Bob Wittke (R-Caledonia). It requires hospitals in Wisconsin to adhere to federal hospital price transparency rules. Should these federal requirements be discontinued, state-level regulations will be enforced by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). These include providing a machine-readable file and a consumer-friendly list of “standard charges.” The DHS is tasked with monitoring compliance and can maintain a public list of noncompliant hospitals, request corrective action plans, or impose penalties.
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) and other business leaders have expressed strong support for this legislation. Rachel Ver Velde, WMC Associate Vice President of Government Relations, stated: “WMC supports efforts to bring greater transparency to healthcare costs in Wisconsin. Patients deserve clear, accessible information to make informed, market-based decisions about their care.”
Mark Gelhaus from Forge Investors LLC emphasized the importance of price transparency in creating a free market environment for healthcare: “Price transparency to the customer is critical if we are serious about moving health care into a free market environment.”
Russell Steele from Nolato Contour highlighted the benefits for employers: “As an employer committed to the well-being of our workforce, we strongly support Wisconsin legislation aimed at hospital price transparency.”
Timothy L. Stewart from DeWitt Law Firm pointed out challenges faced by consumers due to lack of transparency: “The lack of transparency in health care in general… makes it very difficult for our employees to be responsible consumers of health care.”
Steen Coleman from Paper Machinery Corporation also supported the initiative: “Paper Machinery Corporation supports the passing of hospital transparency legislation.”
