Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB338

Introduced

6/30/23

Refer

6/30/23

Failed

4/15/24

Caption

Price transparency in hospitals and providing a penalty. (FE)

Impact

If passed, AB338 will impact state health care laws by formalizing the obligation of hospitals to disclose their pricing structures. Hospitals will need to ensure that their standard charge lists are updated regularly and made available to the public on their websites. Failure to comply with these transparency requirements can result in civil penalties that vary according to the hospital's bed count, which establishes a tiered penalty system intended to incentivize compliance across facilities of different sizes.

Summary

Assembly Bill 338 aims to enhance price transparency within hospitals by requiring each hospital to publicly disclose standard charges for items and services provided. The bill mandates that hospitals maintain a digital file in a machine-readable format that includes a consumer-friendly list of standard charges for services that can be scheduled in advance, referred to as 'shoppable services.' This requirement is designed to provide consumers with necessary information regarding hospital costs, enabling them to make more informed choices about their healthcare options.

Contention

Despite its aim to increase transparency and consumer empowerment, the bill may encounter resistance from certain hospital associations and stakeholders who argue that the new regulations could impose significant administrative burdens, especially for smaller facilities that might lack the resources to manage complex pricing data. Additionally, critics may express concerns that mere transparency, without broader reforms to healthcare pricing mechanisms, will not effectively alleviate high medical costs for consumers.