about the coalition for health care cost transparency
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She started reaching out to folks both in person and online, trying to get their take on the issue. Everyone seems to agree: cost transparency is common sense and the right thing to do. She reached out to news outlets in her home town. She was on local TV news, the our local NPR radio station, and she made a petition to see how many people would feel the same way. Turns out quite a few people do.
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Knowing how many people this issue affects, and how important it is to get insurance companies and doctors offices, hospitals, and providers of all kinds to cooperate on this, we decided to make this website, which would be a central place for information about the movement.
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We know that making health care costs truly transparent will be a challenge for doctors, hospitals, other providers, and insurance companies. It is a complex puzzle of procedure codes, reimbursements, and individual insurance plans. But, as complex as it is, it is doable. And it is the right thing to do. Because everyone deserves to know what their health care will cost.
Your health. Your money. Your right to know.
The coalition for health care cost transparency was started by Anna Ka, a sign language interpreter in Rochester, NY. She was having a hard time getting a cost from my insurance company for a doctor's appointment. She filed a complaint with the insurance company, Excellus, and got a letter back stating they can't tell her what anything will cost until the claim is received. Common sense tells us that is backwards. You don't buy anything without knowing the price, or at least a good estimate. Like Anna, millions of Americans have a high deductible plan. The risk of getting an unexpectedly high bill in the mail could really hurt or even bankrupt a working class person like Anna.
Action steps
This is what we plan to do:
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1. Get as many signatures as possible on the petition to make health care costs transparent
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2. Call, write, and show up in person if necessary to the door of every representative in our government who could help to change or make the laws to make real health care transparency a reality in the US today.
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My specific action steps:
1. Contact the chairs of the insurance committees and speak to them and/or their legislative directors.
NYS Senate - Neil Breslin - (518) 455-2225
NYS Assembly - Kevin Cahill - (518) 455-4436
2. Contact Joe Morrelle - US Representative for NY 25th district.
He helped create and pass a law for family members to stay at home care care for sick family members. I have a feeling he would understand this issue.
3. Go down the line on NYS districts:
NYS senate - 61
Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer
NYS Assembly - 138
Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson
US congress - 25
Representative Joseph D. Morelle
US Senate -
Senator Charles E. Schumer
Want to get involved in your own state or federally?
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See your action steps:
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