CEOs: there's no simple cure for billing and pricing woes

Hospital billing and pricing practices are drawing increasing heat from lawmakers, employers and consumers. In a four-part package, we explore various aspects of this issue. First, an overview. With public dissatisfaction growing, leaders on Capitol Hill are delving into hospital administrative costs and practices as never before. Second, the pricing controversy. Hospitals have three antidotes to the problem: streamline their charge structures, keep prices closely tied to costs, and explain the complexities of cost-shifting to businesses. Many hospitals are already moving forward on this. On page 29, the consumer angle. While a number of lawsuits in Florida have alleged overcharging by hospitals, Nevada has begun operating a new commission charged specifically with arbitrating patient billing disputes. On page 31, the receivables management story. Hospitals must carefully examine the efficiency of all their business office functions to make billing and collection improvements, experts say; relying on automation alone will not work.