Oregon hospitals offer cost estimates for scheduled procedures within three days

Every Oregon hospital has volunteered to provide cost estimates for scheduled hospital procedures within three business days, the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems announced yesterday. The policy will primarily help uninsured and out-of-network patients, since most insured patients can find more useful information on costs by contacting their insurer, the association notes. To help consumers access the hospital estimates, the association’s OregonHospitalGuide.org website has added the appropriate contact information for each hospital and links to the hospital's financial assistance policy for people who need help paying their bill. "Patients, whether they are insured, out of their health plan's network or lack insurance all together, should be able to get a good faith estimate directly from their hospital for the cost of a procedure ahead of time," said OAHHS President and CEO Andy Davidson. "…We are very proud of this pro-consumer commitment by Oregon hospitals."