Groundbreaking Health Care Price Transparency Legislation Advances Today in the State Senate
Senator Jason Holsman’s Amendment Secures Bi-Partisan Compromise
JEFFERSON CITY — Today (2-18), the Missouri Senate passed Senate Bill 608, sponsored by Sen. David Sater (R-Cassville), which dealt with copays for emergency room visits. During debate, an amendment was added by Sen. Jason Holsman (D-Kansas City) which directs the Department of Health and Senior Services to create a web portal where hospitals and healthcare providers are required to share costs of service for the 100 most common procedures. This information has previously been difficult for healthcare consumers to obtain.
By better understanding the true cost of healthcare services, competition and market forces will help drive down costs of healthcare.
Senator Holsman has sponsored the Healthcare Transparency Act for the past three sessions.
“The federal Affordable Care Act expanded access to the healthcare system but it did not focus on driving down the cost of care,” said Sen. Holsman. “This legislation will provide transparency to the consumers so they can make informed healthcare decisions based on competitive pricing. No other industry in our economic system has you consume the service without knowing the cost and then sends you the bill weeks later.”
The legislation passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 27 to 5.