The billing experience in healthcare, which is marked by information asymmetry between providers and patients, is a frequent source of frustration and service dissatisfaction for patients. Patients may experience delays in billing, unclear communication of billing-related information, and uncertainty about responsibility for charges, which may suggest poor hospital accountability. Further, nearly 40% of Americans indicate that they are confused by the billing process, 29% indicate they are unsure as to what they are billed for, and a total of 76% of respondents affirmed that one of six survey options for improvements to billing were desirable, while 24% indicated an unlisted solution may improve the billing experience. The contemporary billing experience is thus not only a source of frustration for patients, but also a potential source for a decrease in individual and public trust in healthcare services and therefore may compact extant individual avoidance of healthcare due to anxieties about costs.
A Trio of New Transparency Laws: Examining the Open Government Reforms Instituted by SB 843, HB 103, & HB 3526
During the Regular Session, the 89th Texas Legislature passed three key measures to meaningfully improve fiscal transparency and cultivate a more informed decision-making environment. These well-intentioned measures include: • HB 103 (2025), relating to the creation and maintenance of a database of taxing unit bond, tax, and bond-related project information; providing a civil penalty; •...