Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier formally opened an investigation into the deceptive and predatory practices of Florida hospitals flouting state law and federal price transparency rules.
Now, the leading national healthcare price transparency advocacy group, PatientRightsAdvocate.org (PRA), is applauding the move by the Florida AG, saying it would protect consumers and lower costs.
PRA says during a patient’s most vulnerable hour, all too often hospitals require them to sign contracts accepting full financial responsibility without acknowledging any prices. Florida law clearly states that unfair and deceptive acts and practices are “unlawful,” which include omitting material information like prices. “Yet, that is exactly what Florida hospitals have been doing,’ said the group.
Cynthia A. Fisher, Founder and Chairman of PRA, said that by not posting actual prices, hospitals can charge whatever they want.
For example, non-profit Advent Health Orlando made news in 2021 for billing a patient with insurance over half a million dollars following her son’s birth. Advent Health proposed a $46,000-per-month payment plan. After receiving a press inquiry, the hospital reduced the patient’s bill to a total of $300.
PRA says reforms are needed so that real prices can allow consumers to make informed choices and incentivize hospitals to offer more competitive prices. If enacted, some economists agree that healthcare price transparency would save up to $1 trillion in the American economy annually.
“Hospitals have hidden their prices yet have forced patients to sign a blank check before they can get care. As long as prices have been hidden, hospitals have been able to charge whatever they want. The Attorney General’s action seeks to protect patients through actual upfront prices. This investigation will protect Floridians from hospitals’ predatory practices, prevent overcharges, and make bills accountable. Ultimately, these consumer protections will help Americans to lower their costs,” said Cynthia A. Fisher, Founder and Chairman of PRA.
