Oklahoma House Bill HB3048

Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/7/22
• Refer: 2/8/22

Caption

Medical price transparency; penalties; allocation of penalties; health care facility price transparency; penalties; allocation of penalties; effective date.

Impact

The implications of HB 3048 extend to existing statutes concerning healthcare facility and provider regulations, particularly around transparency. By instituting penalties for non-compliance, the bill aims to encourage adherence to these transparency requirements. Healthcare providers with ten or fewer licensed professionals could face a penalty of $1,000 per month, while those with larger staffs would see penalties tiered by the number of professionals. This creates a structured framework for accountability in the healthcare industry.

Summary

House Bill 3048 is a legislative measure aimed at enhancing price transparency in the healthcare sector in Oklahoma. This bill mandates that healthcare providers must publicly disclose the prices of at least the twenty most commonly offered healthcare services. Compliance requires making this information accessible either on their website or through physical documentation at their facilities. The bill emphasizes clarity by requiring that these prices be accompanied by a plain English description and standardized coding, enhancing consumer understanding of healthcare costs.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 3048 include concerns about the operational burden placed on smaller healthcare providers, who may struggle to meet the documentation and compliance requirements. Some legislators and healthcare advocates argue that while transparency is important, the penalties might disproportionately affect smaller providers, potentially leading to increased costs for patients if providers are forced to raise prices to cover compliance costs. Additionally, the effective date of the legislation set for November 1, 2022, may place additional pressure on healthcare providers to quickly adapt to the new requirements.