There is no question that health care prices are out of control. A recent survey of Washington residents shows 4 in 5 are worried about being able to afford health care and 1 in 5 cut pills in half, skip doses, or don’t fill prescriptions because of cost. There are 400,000 Washington residents being chased by debt collectors for medical debt. WA is ranked the 44th worst in the country in terms of the cost of an average hospital stay. 

This New York Times podcast reports on how some nonprofit hospitals are more like for-profits with billions in revenue, investment income, and substantial tax breaks. The investigation including research into Providence and how it used predatory practices to pressure Washington patients to pay hospital bills, even when they qualified for free care (the subject of an ongoing lawsuit by Attorney General Bob Ferguson). One Everett woman describes her experience of going to a Providence emergency room and ending up with a $1,950 bill, after insurance, more than her monthly income.

We need new policies to address these problems. NoHLA is co-launching a new effort, Fair Health Prices Washington, that includes patients, workers, and employers working together to address the underlying drivers of health prices.  This year, we are supporting 5 solutions in Olympia. Many were highlighted in this article. 

• HB 1508/SB 5519 strengthens the authority of the Health Care Cost Transparency Board to improve rulemaking, track consumer underinsurance, evaluate how profit accumulation and nonprofit tax breaks contribute to spending, and to hold high price outliers accountable, as needed.
• HB 1269 expands the capacity of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, increases the number of drugs subject to oversight, speeds up the timeline for affordability reviews and upper payment limits, and removes pharmaceutical industry representatives from PDAB advisory groups.
• HB 1379/SB 5393 prevents anti-competitive behavior in contracts between insurers and providers by prohibiting certain practices that result in less choice and allows the AGO and OIC to examine the impact of anti-competitive behavior on the health care system.
• HB 1263/SB 5241 prevents consolidations that reduce access to affordable quality care or drive up prices and require the health care needs of marginalized communities to be considered.
• SB 5236 protects patient safety by ensuring lower patient loads and enforces overtime, meal, and rest break laws, and requires penalties for violations.

In the Senate Committee on Health and Long Term Care, our first hearing on SB 5393 is scheduled for tomorrow (1/27) at 8 am. We’ll also have hearings for HB 1269 and HB 1508 in House Health Care and Wellness Committee next Wednesday (2/1) at 1:30 pm.  

We’re stronger together–for information on how you can join the effort, send us an email.