A year ago, President Biden announced he would enforce an executive order issued by former President Trump that requires hospitals to post their prices publicly — to be “transparent.”
Not only did the administration insist on compliance, but it doubled down by increasing the penalties for the 80% of large hospitals that had dragged their feet.
Both administrations should be congratulated for the patient-friendly policy, but getting compliance has proven difficult. Patient Rights Advocate semi-annual report on transparency recently reviewed 2000 hospitals, discovering that 84% of the hospitals were continuing to hide prices from consumers.
As we often discover when contemplating Washington’s healthcare policymaking swamp, there’s many a profiteer who stands to make a killing from the final decision. If voters only knew of the countless ways that healthcare law and regulation have been turned to the service of picking their pockets… time to get woke about the skeeziness in which this sector of the American economy is drenched!
Anyway, we shine today’s spotlight on AARP. (What?! You mean those nice people who arrange discounts and put out a magazine that makes oldsters look better than the overwhelming majority of youngsters?!)
Yes, AARP.
In April 2021, the Biden administration proposed exceptions to the order on price transparency. Specifically, the exception meant that rates negotiated by hospitals for Medicare Advantage plans could be excluded from Medicare’s reporting of hospital prices.
Hmm. Rules for thee, but not for me.
Let’s follow the money.