Sen. John Hickenlooper thinks more transparent pricing could lower healthcare costs. Could it work?

More transparency in healthcare pricing – and fewer surprises from the billing department. Those are the key concepts behind a new Senate bill called the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act. It would require hospitals to be more up-front about what they'll charge you for medical procedures, and to send an itemized breakdown of the costs after a patient receives care. Colorado Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper introduced the bill with a Republican co-sponsor, Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas. Since then, it's moved forward from Senate committee hearings with bipartisan support. As the bill waits to be heard on the U.S. Senate floor, we talked with Sen. Hickenlooper about why he thinks transparent pricing is a key first step toward reforming American healthcare. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: [email protected] Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks! Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer: Brad Turner Theme music by Robbie Reverb Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for Northern Colorado.