An Act To Provide Public Access to Price Lists of Hospitals and Ambulatory Surgical Facilities

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1812-E, sub-§4  is enacted to read:

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §1832  is enacted to read:

§ 1832.  Hospital price lists

A hospital licensed under this chapter shall post in the hospital in an area used by the public a list of average prices charged by the hospital for the 100 most commonly performed procedures in the hospital. The hospital shall also post a link or page on its publicly accessible website stating its pricing policy and current average prices for the 100 most commonly performed procedures in the hospital.

Sec. 3. Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability review and report. The Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability shall conduct a review of efforts by hospitals in the State to reduce costs to all payers, including but not limited to efforts pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 1722 to restrain cost increases and consolidated operating margins. The office shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services and to the Government Oversight Committee by January 15, 2012 on the results of its review and shall include recommended legislation to control hospital costs.

summary

This bill requires a licensed hospital to post in the hospital in an area used by the public a list of prices charged by the hospital for the 100 most commonly performed procedures in the hospital. The hospital shall also post a link or page on its publicly accessible website stating its pricing policy and current prices for the 100 most commonly performed procedures in the hospital. The bill requires ambulatory surgical facilities to post similar price lists. The bill requires review and a report on hospital efforts to control costs from the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability.