If you think medical bill are complex and confusing, you’re not alone. Between obscure medical billing codes, adjustments and health industry terminology, even experts find themselves puzzled by their medical bills.
In a 2015 article, one woman told The New York Times she had recently received a $45,000 hospital bill with the explanation of “miscellaneous”.
Today at the annual Health Datapalooza conference, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced a challenge to address the issue of medical bills.
“A Bill You Can Understand” challenges health care organizations, designers, developers, digital tech companies and other innovators to design a medical bill that’s simpler, cleaner, and easier for consumers to understand. The ultimate goal is to improve the consumer experience around the overall medical billing process.
The challenge will issue two awards for:
- The medical bill design that is easiest to understand
- The best transformational approach to improving the medical billing system
Cambia, along with Geisinger Health System, INTEGRIS Health, MetroHealth System, Providence Health & Services, and University of Utah Health Care, will test or implement the winning solutions.
Challenge winners will be announced in September 2016 and receive cash prizes of $5,000 each.
Date: May 9, 2016