Oregonians are Being Harmed by Hidden, Expensive Medical Fees
Oregonians already struggle to afford the health care they need, and unexpected, unfair medical fees are making it worse. Join us today to protect Oregonians from the burden of high health care costs.
The Problem of Hidden Medical Fees
Oregonians are struggling with the rising costs of health care. Oregon families spend nearly a quarter of their household budget on health care, as health care spending has increased by almost 40% in the last 10 years and is only continuing to rise.
On top of rising costs for coverage — including higher premiums and threats of losing Medicaid coverage — the cost of the care itself continues to keep people from seeking the help they need.
Current billing loopholes allow large corporate hospitals to tack on extra “facility fees” to patients’ bills in their outpatient clinics. These fees don’t go towards paying our doctors or nurses for the care people receive, but instead pad hospital revenue. With these fees, Oregonians are being taken advantage of and paying higher costs for the same or worse quality of care.
These fees are on the rise as large corporate hospitals are buying up outpatient doctors offices and clinics, leaving people with fewer health care options. As the number of Oregonians unable to afford their health care keeps rising, Oregon’s hospital CEOs keep being rewarded with increasing salaries. Oregonians shouldn’t be forced to take on medical debt or pay even more to access their health care while CEOs keep making more and more.
“[Hospitals] are going to find a way to get the money they want from you, no matter what. If it’s not called one thing, they’ll call it something else. Fine, it’s a ‘facility fee.’ If you don’t like the facility fee, then it’s a grounds fee, or whatever…It’s no different than those convenience fees.”
-Portland Resident
Our Solution
Oregonians are already struggling to afford the health care they need — and unnecessary facility fees are making it worse. Oregon’s leaders should close the loopholes that allow large corporate hospitals to charge these unfair fees for services performed outside of the hospital, on top of prices that already exceed the cost of care.
Save Money on Health Care
Eliminate unexpected and unfair hidden fees.
Take Control of Your Care
Require more transparency around your hospital bill.
Get Healthier
See your provider when you need to without worrying about how you are going to pay for it.
Fast Facts
74%
The percentage of Oregonians who have delayed or gone completely without medical care because it was too expensive.
83%
The percentage of Oregonians who are worried about affording health care in the future.
92%
The percentage of Oregonians who believe that legislators should take action to reduce hospital prices.
73%
The percentage of Oregonians who believe hospitals should provide up-front cost estimates.
Take Action:
Tell your lawmaker to protect patients from hidden medical fees!
Oregonians are struggling with the rising costs of health care. Families already spend nearly a quarter of their household budget on health care, and with costs for both coverage and care climbing, Oregonians are being forced to make hard choices between paying for medical care or other basic needs.
Loopholes that allow big hospital systems to charge unfair fees in outpatient clinics are making things worse. These unexpected and unjustified fees, also known as “facility fees,” do not go towards doctors and nurses but simply pad revenue.
Oregonians deserve fair, transparent health care. Oregon lawmakers should work to protect patients by closing loopholes that allow hospitals to charge these unfair fees in outpatient clinics on top of prices that already exceed the cost of care.
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