As part of the healthcare transparency push of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers will be required to provide cost information for 44 frequently searched nonemergency procedures, the governor announced this week.
A web tool called the Florida Health Price Finder will enable Florida residents to find the best price for nonemergency healthcare. The price finder will let them search for the cost of such procedures as knee and hip replacements and rotator cuff repairs. They'll also be able to link that cost information to quality data so they can make informed decisions.
The governor also announced the creation of a Governor's Health Care Transparency Award for hospitals and ASCs. The award will be presented to a healthcare organization that exceeds the regulatory requirements that mandate providers send accessible and understandable data about pricing, financial policies and outcomes to the Agency for Health Care Administration in Florida and to patients.
"Healthcare is the only industry where a consumer purchases something without knowing the price or value, and that needs to change," said Mr. DeSantis. "I am laser-focused on empowering patients with information through transparency and with these announcements today, we take another step in the right direction. Ultimately, my goal is to make Florida’s health care system the most transparent, most affordable and highest quality health care system in the nation."