Democratic Montana Gov. Steve Bullock vetoed the state legislature's healthcare price transparency measure, according to KPAX.com.
Mr. Bullock said Senate Bill 362 could increase healthcare costs instead of lowering them as intended. The bill calls for providers and payers to release costs for specific healthcare procedures and for insurers to create online price comparison tools for consumers.
However, Mr. Bullock said developing the technology would lead to increased costs for patients. "Peer-reviewed medical and scientific studies show that online pricing tools are not used, and when they are, drive costs up," his veto message reads.
"I appreciate the Legislature's work to control costs and improve quality for [healthcare] consumers," he wrote. "Unfortunately, in its current form, it does not advance Montanans' ability to make healthcare decisions in a cost-effective manner."
SB 362, sponsored by Sen. Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, passed the state House and Senate with reasonably large margins, according to the report. The Montana legislature could override the veto with a two-thirds vote in each branch.