As a social justice advocate deeply invested in the well-being of my broader community, I find myself increasingly troubled by the pervasive impact of a deceptive hospital billing practice called “dishonest billing.” Dishonest billing is when a hospital secretly reclassifies a doctor’s office they own as a hospital setting in order to get more money. The disturbing trend of hospital conglomerates acquiring independent physician practices and subsequently hiking prices for routine doctor services is not merely an issue confined to the healthcare sector; it poses a direct threat to the health and wellbeing of individuals and small businesses, and the impact is exacerbated in vulnerable, underserved communities.
As a justice-impacted citizen myself, I know how critical stable employment is to successful reentry efforts. Small businesses are the backbone of our great city and state – according to 2023 data from the U.S. Small Business Administration, New York’s 2.2 million small businesses make up 99.8 percent of all businesses in the state. Given this, one of the most immediate challenges dishonest billing poses is the financial strain it places on small businesses, limiting their ability to provide employees with the benefits they need.
As hospital conglomerates flex their acquisition muscles, the prices for routine doctor services skyrocket, leaving small business owners grappling with the difficult decision of balancing employee health coverage and the growth of their enterprises. This dilemma is exacerbated by the fact that these exorbitant costs often force small businesses to choose between providing adequate healthcare benefits and investing in expansion, hiring, and innovation.
Justice-impacted individuals cannot succeed without employment that provides quality, affordable healthcare. However, the surge in health care costs resulting from deceptive billing practices, like dishonest billing, puts small business employers in an untenable position. An annual survey by the Business Group on Health found that the average cost of health care per worker increased from $15,862 in 2022 to $17,200 in 2023. The reality of soaring medical expenses leaves small business owners with fewer resources to allocate towards essential business initiatives that directly impact individuals and families in the communities I serve.
The consequence of these decisions reverberates beyond the confines of our business walls and extends into the wider community. Small businesses are the backbone of local economies, and when their growth is stunted, so too is the economic vitality of the communities they serve. Reduced expansion and hiring opportunities limit the potential for increased employment and economic prosperity, which, in turn, affects the overall quality of life for community members.
Furthermore, dishonest billing contributes to a growing sense of disillusionment among Americans who feel caught in a relentless cycle of financial strain. For small business owners, this strain not only impedes their ability to provide competitive wages and benefits but also hinders their capacity to contribute to community development initiatives and support local charities or events. For individuals, this strain discourages people from seeking proactive medical care for routine services as well as mental health services.
Policymakers must prioritize the creation of an environment that encourages competition and innovation, allowing smaller health care providers to operate independently and small businesses to offer affordable services to their employees. The New York State Assembly should enact legislation to ban dishonest billing and curb the unchecked power of hospital conglomerates, forcing them to justify and communicate any price increases for routine doctor services. Additionally, New Yorks’ federal representatives should support the Site-based Invoicing and Transparency Enhancement (SITE) Act, sponsored by Sen. Braun (R-IN) and Sen. Hassan (D-NH) which would provide hospital billing transparency for Medicare recipients.
As a community, we must unite to demand change and challenge a health care system that places profit over people. By advocating for fair and transparent hospital billing practices, we can work towards a future where small businesses can grow, individuals are given a second chance to access employment with quality health care coverage, and communities can flourish.
Dorian Bess is the program development and engagement officer with the Social Justice Network.
Dorian Bess , 2024-04-18 18:03:03
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