"Make it Monday" forum - Municipal Healthcare Cost-Transparency Ordinance

The Municipality of Anchorage recently adopted a health care price-transparency law to empower health care consumers receiving services in Anchorage. The Municipality’s action builds on prior efforts of a growing number of jurisdictions that have adopted similar laws, including, most recently Florida and Ohio.

What is it?
Anchorage Municipal Ordinance AO 2017-26 requires health care practitioners and facilities in Anchorage to provide cost estimates to patients who request such information. Upon request by a patient, and within 10 business days from receiving the request, AO 2017-26 requires health care practitioners and facilities, to provide a written or electronic estimate of reasonably anticipated health care charges to treat the patient’s condition when receiving nonemergency medical services. In addition, the ordinance requires health care practitioners and facilities to post a sign in patient waiting areas with specific language regarding requesting cost estimates.

Active enforcement of the law began September 1, 2017.

More information at: muni.org/Departments/health/COHO/Pages/default.aspx

SPEAKER: William D. Falsey, Municipal Attorney

Mr. Falsey is the Municipal Attorney for the Municipality of Anchorage.  He was previously a partner in the law firm of Sedor Wendlandt, Evans and Filippi.  In private practice, Mr. Falsey represented clients before the Alaska Superior Court, the Alaska Supreme Court, the Federal District Court of Alaska, and in several administrative forums. Previously, Mr. Falsey served as BLM’s Deputy Chief of Staff and clerked for Chief Justice Alexander O. Bryner of the Alaska Supreme Court.  Mr. Falsey is a graduate of Yale Law School, Stanford University (B.S., Physics, with Minors in History and Political Science) and A.J. Dimond High School.

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