LETTER: Federal legislation would cure dysfunctional billing for medical services

Published 9:21 am Wednesday, November 13, 2024

As a person with terminal cancer who has a limited income, it is important that billing for healthcare is fair, transparent and predictable. This is being endangered by the rampant growth of hospital consolidations. Over 70% of small doctor practices have been acquired by large hospital systems and that turns them into Hospital Outpatient Departments and instead of the old rate there is a usual increase of around 14%.

Oregonians should not foot the bill for these corporate takeovers. We should pay the same rate for care no matter where we get it. I don’t want to have to worry that these corporate machinations may turn a routine doctor’s visit into something I can’t afford. No cancer patient should have to skip the health care that they need because costs have skyrocketed.

Congress has two opportunities to take action before the end of the year. The Facilitating Accountability In Reimbursement Act (FAIR) in the House and the Site-based Invoicing Transparency Act (SITE) in the Senate will create site-neutral payment reform requiring hospitals to charge patients based on service not location.

I hope U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and the rest of our state’s federal delegation will take action on this important legislation.

Mark Sturbois lives in Southeast Portland.