Worried about rising health care prices? The Washington Health Care Cost Transparency Board (HCCTB) was created by House Bill 2457 in 2020 to decrease health care costs and increase cost transparency. But advocates are concerned that the HCCTB is too focused on concerns of the health care industry. The devastating effects of high health care costs on consumers are not receiving the attention they deserve. “Uninsurance, underinsurance, and medical debt are among the metrics that should matter most to the board,” said Northwest Health Law Advocates’ Senior Staff Attorney Emily Brice presenting to the HCCTB on September 21, 2022. 

During the presentation, “The Growing Pressure of Health Prices: Perspective from WA Consumers,” (starting at page 19), Brice was joined by consumer advocacy partners from the Economic Opportunity Institute and Patient Coalition of Washington. NoHLA and partners encouraged the HCCTB to move quickly to identify the underlying drivers of health care spending, citing the urgency of consumer affordability challenges. The Board needs to consider the financial implications of health care costs from a consumer’s view in accomplishing its goals. Advocates highlighted the affordability challenges faced by health care consumers, namely the squeeze of:

• soaring Exchange insurance premium prices, totaling 39% for a benchmark plan since 2014, 
• ever-increasing rising employer-sponsored premiums, 49% between 2010 and 2020, and 
• climbing out-of-pocket maximums, 43% between 2014 and 2023. 

A troubling impact of high prices is the disproportionate number of people in communities of color that cannot afford health insurance. In addition, about 5% of Washington residents have medical debt currently in collections. 

Washington has a long way to go to address the persistent problem of rising health costs. Though the HCCTB established a limit on cost increases of 3.2% for 2023, it’s clear that we aren’t yet making enough progress. Just this month, the Insurance Commissioner announced the average premium increases in the Exchange would be over 8% in 2023. And the HCCTB’s powers are weak; it cannot impose penalties if a carrier or provider goes over the cost benchmark.  

Consumer advocates are scheduled to present at the HCCTB’s next meeting on November 16, 2022. Meetings are held virtually and are open to the public. See the HCCTB’s meetings and materials and FAQs.