Hospitals now required to make prices public before treatment—here's what Myrtle Beach area providers are doing

WBTW News | Braley Dodson | Jan. 18, 2021

Patients are now able to see the prices of health care services before they seek them, according to a new, federal rule that went into effect at the beginning of this year. 

“It is absurd that we have not been able to know prices in health care,” said Cynthia Fisher, the founder and chairman of Patient Rights Advocate, a national nonprofit organization that works for price transparency in the health care industry.

Starting Jan. 1, medical institutions are required to post the prices they use to negotiate with insurers and the discounts they offer to customers who pay in cash. Under the rule — a push from the Trump administration — the price for every service, drug and supply a health care provider offers must be publicly put online.

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In new health care shakeup, dozens of Charlotte doctors to break away from Novant Health

Carolina News | Cassie Cope and Deon Roberts | Jan. 22, 2019

More than 40 doctors plan to break away from Novant Health, Charlotte’s second-largest hospital system confirmed Tuesday, the latest shakeup in the metro area’s health care scene.

It was not immediately clear whether the doctors plan to form an independent practice.

“The physicians are leaving our medical group,” Novant spokeswoman Caryn Klebba said in a statement. “That said, Novant Health continues to focus on our goal of delivering a remarkable experience to our patients.”

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Carolina News | Dan Way | Jan. 8, 2019

RALEIGH — For years, independent health-care providers have resisted consolidation in the medical market. State Treasurer Dale Folwell hopes to lend them a hand with State Health Plan payment reforms.

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