HEALTHCARE
Trump administration targets 3 New Mexico hospitals over pricing transparency
Hospitals are part of more than 500 facilities nationwide that received warnings
The Trump administration has warned three New Mexico hospitals to make their pricing more transparent or face annual fines of up to $2 million.
The hospitals are among more than 500 facilities nationwide that have received similar warnings since April, according to a obtained by The Associated Press.
The New Mexico facilities on the list include BHC Mesilla Valley Hospital in Las Cruces, Guadalupe County Hospital in Santa Rosa and Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center in sa国际传媒官网网页入口.
Mesilla Valley received a warning notice, while Guadalupe County Hospital and Heart Hospital were asked to provide the pricing, according to the list.
鈥淲e are compliant with all federal hospital price transparency requirements, and we make our pricing information publicly available as required,鈥� a Mesilla Valley spokesperson wrote in a statement.
A spokesperson for the Heart Hospital also stated it is compliant with the federal policy and has 鈥渨orked to ensure patient cost estimate tools and standard charge files for our facilities are available online and through patient financial services.鈥�
Both hospitals said their corrections led to successful resolutions with the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
鈥淲e remain committed to providing patients with access to pricing information and maintaining compliance with all applicable regulations,鈥� the Heart Hospital spokesperson said.
The Guadalupe hospital did not respond to a Journal request for comment.
The Trump administration has argued that the lack of disclosure keeps healthcare costs higher than necessary. The warnings are meant to ensure patients, employers and insurers know the costs of blood work, imaging tests and other treatments ahead of time.
The American Hospital Association told the AP that its members support price transparency and that the majority of hospitals are complying with the federal requirements that went into effect this year.
Ashley Thompson, senior vice president for policy at the hospital association, said in the statement to the AP that 鈥渢he current system is not working as well as it could for patients.鈥� Hospitals will continue working with the administration to improve pricing information and transparency, she said.
The Tuesday AP came just one day before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce met to hear proposals on price transparency, including the bipartisan Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, which passed in the House.
Representatives also introduced the bipartisan Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, which is still pending action in Congress, and the Republican Clear Healthcare Expense Cost Knowledge (CHECK) Act, which is under active review.
Keelin Fisher is a business reporter for the Journal. You can reach her at kfisher@abqjournal.com.
