Patient Rights Advocate

Federal price transparency rules reveal the vast gap between hospital charges and actual costs—like a $282,806 spinal fusion with a cash price of just $113,122. Patients and payers deserve this transparency to ensure fairness, accountability, and control over healthcare costs. Interesting legal perspective and facts shared in this article.

UnitedHealth’s manipulation of diagnoses shows how a lack of transparency fuels profit over patient care. Inflated “sickness scores” led to billions in extra Medicare Advantage payments—paid by taxpayers, hidden from patients. Price transparency isn’t just about costs—it’s about accountability. Without it, who’s really paying the price?

Very thoughtful commentary from Marni Jameson Carey. Price transparency is fundamental to any reforms that aim to cut waste and control healthcare costs. Chris Deacon Linda Bent Dutch Rojas Cora Opsahl Kevin Morra

‘That’s highway robbery.’ Patient Rights Advocate's latest report revealed only 11% of Maryland hospitals comply with federal price transparency laws. With some patients being charged over $12,000 for procedures that should cost $700 to $1,200, PRA founder Cynthia Fisher exposes the system’s failure to provide clear, accountable pricing. Read more about PRA's findings and the urgent need for transparency in Maryland healthcare.

Patient Rights Advocate's latest findings reveal that only 12% of Tennessee hospitals are fully compliant with federal price transparency rules. This Tennessee Lookout article highlights the persistent challenges patients face in accessing clear pricing information, despite regulations intended to empower them. Read more about the state of transparency in Tennessee and PRA's role in holding hospitals accountable. "Ilaria Santangelo, with PRA, said she wants to see more actual dollar signs and less algorithms and percentages in hospitals’ machine-readable files. Algorithms require access to other, often expensive, data sets to calculate estimates... “'This is totally going to impede consumers’ access to real prices, and it’s going to impede their ability to get the best quality of care at prices they know they can afford.'” she said.

“Patients deserve the chance to make an informed financial decision when it comes to their medical care. Price transparency in our hospitals is important, yet there is clearly room for improvement. “ We couldn’t agree more!

What an achievement! Ohio legislators are representing their constituents well by demanding transparency!

While we agree with almost all of the points raised in this article, we find number 5 particularly important - Prices Remain a Mystery: "Patients often have no idea how much a test or a procedure will cost before they go to a clinic or a hospital. Health care prices are hidden from the public. And because consumers with health insurance often must pick up a portion of their bill, health care prices matter. ...[despite almost 4 years of mandatory disclosure of hospital prices] the consumer nonprofit Patient Rights Advocate said in a November report that just 21% of hospitals fully comply with the existing federal price transparency rule, down from 35% as of February."

“Price transparency, as articulated in the Ohio legislation, empowers patients to avoid such outrageous healthcare costs and choose affordable care… Price transparency levels the power imbalance between the healthcare industry and patients. It forces hospitals to compete over price and quality, just like everywhere else in the economy, putting downward pressure on costs.”

"Price transparency isn’t just an idea—it’s a solution with massive implications for families, employers, and our entire economy." Well said Dutch Rojas. At Patient Rights Advocate we are working tirelessly to bring price transparency to all aspects of the healthcare system, including labs.