PIRG joins consumer advocates in launching campaign for fair hospital pricing

Today, PIRG advocates celebrated the launch the Consumers for Fair Hospital Pricing Coalition, a group of health care and consumer advocates from across the nation. The goal of the coalition is to improve hospital price transparency and press for policies that end unfair medical billing and prevent anti-competitive practices that drive up prices for health care. 

Rising hospital costs are hurting American families. 

“Health care prices don’t have to be — and shouldn’t be — so high. That’s why we’re pressing for a sustainable health care payment system that values high quality and better outcomes,” said PIRG President Faye Park.  “Our newly-formed coalition is committed to building consensus around achievable changes in how hospitals charge for care, so patients aren’t so adversely affected by anti-competitive practices and the increased consolidation in health care markets.”

Our coalition announced our primary objectives in a joint press release.  

• End price gouging by hospitals and large hospital systems,
• Fix market failures, including efforts to address consolidation and its effects on prices, and
• Increase and strengthen price and quality data transparency.

A lack of transparency and unfair billing practices are key drivers of health care costs. Together, we can work to fix these issues and protect patients from sky-high medical bills. Among one of our first initiatives is to pass the Lower Prices, More Transparency Act being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives.