FILE- In this Feb. 9, 2018, file photo, a radiology technician looks at a chest X-ray of a child suffering from flu symptoms at Upson Regional Medical Center in Thomaston, Ga.
David Goldman / AP Photo
Smart Talk: Hospital price transparency
Consumers now have cost information with new federal rule
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Merideth Bucher
David Goldman / AP Photo
FILE- In this Feb. 9, 2018, file photo, a radiology technician looks at a chest X-ray of a child suffering from flu symptoms at Upson Regional Medical Center in Thomaston, Ga.
David Goldman / AP Photo
FILE- In this Feb. 9, 2018, file photo, a radiology technician looks at a chest X-ray of a child suffering from flu symptoms at Upson Regional Medical Center in Thomaston, Ga.
Last year, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services enacted a rule requiring hospitals to make public their standard charges for the procedures and services they provide.
That rule went into effect in January.
Proponents see the publication of the lists as a first step toward price transparency. However, health systems say those price lists aren’t a good way for people to shop around for services.
WITF’s Transforming Health reporter Brett Sholtis appeared on Smart Talk Thursday to discuss the effect of the regulation.
Key points
1:20 – Information available to consumers
4:00 – Price transparency and senior program officer Andrea Ducas statement
11:00 – Quantifying quality
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