A Florida woman received a bill for $3,000 for an MRI of her foot. Had she known the cost upfront, she could have shopped around for care. But until recently, that’s been nearly impossible to do in Florida.

Hospital price lists are often buried in confusing, hard-to-read files, which patients are expected to agree to upfront, before they even know the true cost.

Only 29% of Florida hospitals post clear prices online, according to a report.

This lack of transparency makes it nearly impossible for patients to make informed decisions. Prices for the same procedure can vary widely, even amidst the same hospital system, for example, within the Southern Baptist system — a colonoscopy at Baptist Clay is $5,121 and at Baptist Jacksonville it’s $5,546.

To address this, Florida’s Attorney General, James Uthmeier, has launched an investigation to enforce price transparency laws and protect patients from surprise bills. Clear and upfront pricing is essential for Floridians to make informed healthcare decisions without fear of crippling debt.

When it comes to healthcare, all patients deserve honesty and transparency. Better Solutions is committed to holding hospitals like these to a higher standard and will continue to be a voice for patients.