Gaines Endorses Hospital Cost Transparency Bill

s. (R-Roseville) and Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) today announced that their bill, Senate Bill 751, has cleared both the state Assembly and Senate with bipartisan support and is now on its way to .

Senate Bill 751 is a straightforward measure that will give California consumers access to cost and quality information regarding hospitals in their communities, Gaines said. Consumers will be able to use this valuable information to determine which hospital will provide the best care for their ailment. 

“This bill is based on one simple principle…consumers have the right to know what the actual costs are for the health care services they are paying for,” Gaines said in a released statement. “By giving consumers access to this data, we are empowering them to make informed decisions about their healthcare, which I believe is one part of the equation to stem the tide of escalating costs.”

Current law allows consumers to receive price information after their medical service has been rendered. SB 751 will now ensure consumers receive access to this information before they receive their care, Gaines said. 

“With healthcare costs continuing to grow at a rate faster than both general inflation and wages, health insurance is increasingly difficult for individuals to afford and for employers to offer,” said Hernandez said in a released statement. “That is why providing this cost comparison information, allowing consumers to make an informed decision about care, is so important.”

Sens. Gaines and Hernandez said they plan to send a letter to Brown encouraging him to sign their legislation. 

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Submitted by Betsey Hodges.

Senator Ted Gaines represents the 1st Senate District, which includes all or parts of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento and Sierra counties.