Two transparency bills are being introduced in the U.S. Congress this session that could benefit independent doctors. We at AID encourage you to support them by reaching out to your U.S. senators and representatives to ask for their backing. Here are brief summaries along with links to the full bills:

Transparency in All Health Care Pricing Act of 2017

HB 2569: Introduced to the house by U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.), this bill requires entities that offer or furnish health care related products or services to the public, including health insurers and government agencies, to disclose the price for those products and services at the point of purchase and on the Internet. The entities must disclose all prices, including wholesale, retail, and discounted prices, that are accepted as payment in full for products and services furnished to individual consumers.

The Department of Health and Human Services may investigate and impose civil penalties on entities that fail to comply with this requirement.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2569

Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act of 2017

HB 3920: Introduced to the house by U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.), this bill would require providers of health-care services to declare and reveal their profession and training to protect the distinction between medical doctors and physician assistants, nurse practitioners, etc. Bucshon, a cardiothoracic surgeon married to an anesthesiologist, has introduced the bill twice before, but it now seems to have gained interest. Those against it say it's "anti-nurse." But many doctors believe it should be part of transparency.

Given that many types of health-care professionals including physicians, technicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other allied practitioners provide health-care services, and that evidence shows that consumers are often unaware of or confused by the differences in their qualifications, often as a result of ambiguous advertisements and marketing efforts, this bill would make it unlawful for any person to make any deceptive or misleading statement, or engage in any deceptive or misleading act, that misrepresents whether a care provider holds a State health care license; or misrepresents a person's education, training, degree, license, or clinical expertise.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3928

The Association of Independent Doctors and Orlando Medical News will be tracking the progress of these bills and keep you informed.