Tri County News

The Ohio General Assembly has passed House Bill 173, incorporating House Bill 49, which aims to enhance hospital price transparency in the state. This legislation is jointly sponsored by State Representatives Ron Ferguson and Tim Barhorst.

Barhorst commented on the significance of this legislative move: "For far too long, consumers and patients have been forced to make tough financial decisions because hospital systems lacked transparency about the cost of services." He added that with this bill, Ohio is on the brink of becoming a leader in ensuring medical prices are transparent and accessible in clear terms. "This is a huge victory for patients across our state given Ohio will be the first in the nation for these prices to be available in dollars and cents," he said.

Ferguson emphasized the need for compliance with federal regulations regarding transparency. "Our hospitals deliver some of the best medical care in the country, but that does not justify ignoring federal law to protect profits," he stated. He pointed out that non-compliance results in burdens such as higher taxes and increased out-of-pocket expenses for Ohioans.

The bill now awaits action from Governor Mike DeWine, who must sign it into law before it takes effect.