Large variations between what teaching hospitals and community hospitals charge for similar services and surprise billing were two topics of conversation among Massachusetts lawmakers in a recent podcast sponsored by online magazine CommonWealth.
State Sen. Cindy Friedman, who co-chairs a healthcare finance panel with her state House colleague, Rep. Jennifer Benson, said legislative action should address higher costs charged by large teaching hospitals but also ensure that services offered at smaller community hospitals are efficient.
Ms. Benson described price variation as "the most complicated issue that we have facing us," and said that people will sometimes unnecessarily go to Boston teaching hospitals instead of a nearby community hospital, according to CommonWealth.
Both lawmakers said they were optimistic that legislation will pass this session to address the issue.
The lawmakers also talked about surprise billing, with Ms. Benson citing her own experience with the issue.
Ms. Friedman said both lawmakers agree that patients should be kept out of the middle of cost disputes between healthcare providers and insurance companies.
Listen to CommonWealth's Codcast here.
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