Today the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the winners of the HHS “A Bill You Can Understand” challenge, a design and innovation challenge aimed at making medical billing easier to understand. HHS invited health care leaders Cambia Health Solutions along with Geisinger Health System, INTEGRIS Health, MetroHealth System, Providence Health & Services, and University of Utah Health Care, to review and select challenge winners from over 80 submissions.
The challenge awards two $5,000 prizes: one for the medical bill that is easiest to understand and one for the best transformational approach to improving the medical billing system.
Prize 1 was awarded to RadNet of Los Angeles, CA and Prize 2 was awarded to Sequence of San Francisco, CA. Their winning designs and honorable mentions can be viewed at www.abillyoucanunderstand.com.
“Cambia Health Solutions is relentlessly focused on creating a health care system that removes confusion and mystery for individuals and their families,” said Cambia Health Solutions President and CEO Mark Ganz. “The HHS medical billing challenge encourages health care companies nationwide to create a simple, straightforward and transparent medical bill, one that is truly accountable to patients. Cambia applauds and supports this important work.”
Medical billing continues to be a pain point for Americans. With consumer frustration growing, various policy proposals are being put forward to address the problem. In fact, some 23 states are currently working towards or already have some consumer protections concerning medical billing. President Obama has also proposed in his 2017 budget for Health and Human Services a provision to end surprise out-of-network medical bills.
Cambia will continue to work with HHS and other stakeholders to improve the health care experience by advancing consumer-centric solutions that improve transparency and convenience.
