If there is a reasonable explanation for why the hospital hasn’t submitted all the required information, the file may be closed without further investigation.
As a result, it took about 15 months after the rules were established before the first set of fines were issued. In the meantime, many patients still didn’t have the transparency they were promised.
The Way Forward
It might not be completely true that the transparency law isn’t being enforced, those in the industry admit that the current lag isn’t acceptable. With the expected learning curve out of the way, though, there should be more compliance in the future.
So far, hundreds of warning letters have been submitted and two hospitals in Georgia were issued fines totaling $1.1 million. Still, Fat Joe’s ad highlighted how long bureaucratic processes can take to truly make a difference.
Why Fat Joe Is Speaking Out
Fat Joe is no stranger to needing medical intervention.
Though he’s lost a lot of weight and is in a healthier place now, this wasn’t the case a decade ago. The talented rapper was known for being overweight just as much as his skills with a verse.
Those weight struggles led to being diagnosed with diabetes which he struggled to control. Even after getting to a healthier weight, he battled depression for a long time.
Given his medical history and that studies have shown the way healthcare systems can be skewed against people of color, Fat Joe is against any other issues that make it harder for people to get the treatment they need.
In a recent interview with TMZ, he mentioned that it was wrong that “millions across the country are being dragged into debt because they’re blindsided by the cost of medical bills”.
Though there is some evidence that the relevant agencies are enforcing the law regarding transparency in healthcare prices, it’s not going as quickly as many first hoped. Hopefully, more providers will be in compliance in the upcoming months so patients can have the information they need.