New NC Health Law Aims For Transparency, HIE

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ website will soon be publishing the prices of the 140 most common in-patient, surgical and imaging services performed by every hospital in the state.

Governor Pat McCrory, a Republican who’s focused on regulatory streamlining and healthcare cost reduction, signed into law House Bill 834 in late August, requiring hospitals to submit pricing information on the services, among other changes.

“For too long, North Carolina patients have been in the dark on what they can expect to pay for common medical procedures when they are admitted to a hospital,” McCrory said in a media release. “This new law gives patients and their doctors pricing information so they can make an informed financial decision with regard to their health care.”