Two and a half years ago, the federal government passed a law requiring healthcare organizations to publish a comprehensive list of prices for patients, but according to a price transparency nonprofit, Peoria, Ill.-based OSF HealthCare and Urbana, Ill.-based Carle Health are not in full compliance with the law, according to an Aug. 3 report from the JournalStar.
The two systems are among the 60 percent of organizations in Illinois that are not in compliance, according to a report from the Patient Rights Advocate. Only 36 percent of organizations in the U.S. are in full compliance.
The price lists that have been revealed show that pricing can vary widely from hospital to hospital, ASC to ASC and insurance company to insurance company.
For example, one patient was quoted $99,000 and $7,000 for the same procedure from a hospital and ASC.
CMS is permitted to fine organizations for noncompliance, but the government has been slow to enforce the law, and more than 20 states are currently writing legislation to tackle the lack of enforcement for noncompliant systems.