A new report from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing shows how facility fees have permeated the healthcare system.

Over a six-year period, Colorado facility fees rose around 10%, with hospitals collecting an estimated $13.4 billion in facility fees.

Many patients have experienced shocking hikes in their bills, often without clear justification. In fact, in Colorado, according to Sage Transparency, patients covered by traditional insurance who are receiving care at an outpatient facility are charged over three times more than those covered by Medicare. This surge in costs often comes out of individual’s pockets, placing an undue burden on families and raising critical questions about hospital pricing transparency.

Although these fees have been around since the early 2000s, they have become contentious in recent years as health systems have acquired more and more outpatient providers. This means that patients may now face new fees even though their care is at the same doctor’s office.

Transparency around billing practices has become a major legislative fight. The lack of billing information undermines trust and prevents patients from making informed decisions about their healthcare.

We must put pressure on elected officials to take a stand against dishonest billing. Your voice matters in demanding the quality care and price transparency that everyone deserves. Better Solutions remains committed to holding hospitals accountable for their lack of transparency.