As an advocate who is helping to foster and build the next generation of strong leaders in our state, it troubles me to see the ever-increasing cost of health care burdening families more and more each year. We must fix our complex, costly health system now, or it will be left to the next generation of young people. Without stronger solutions to repair the system and lower the cost of care for families, Alabamians will be surely hindered from reaching their full potential.
We all want a stronger foundation for vibrant and successful communities in Alabama. This is the principal aim of Southern Preparatory Academy, where I serve as president. We are helping our future leaders succeed, grow, and learn how to serve others. But as we all saw very starkly during the COVID-19 pandemic, limited access to affordable health care quickly became an obstacle to growth for countless people in our state. Moving forward, creating better access to health care at an affordable cost should be a top priority for our Alabama lawmakers.
When examining our healthcare industry, Alabamians consider access to care as one of their top health concerns, specifically in rural towns and for other populations that are disproportionately held back by a lack of healthcare providers. A lack of providers in certain areas often leads to increased out-of-pocket costs, as well as extra travel expenses and logistics. Alabamians are facing an increasingly fragile, complex, and expensive healthcare system that is becoming more financially overwhelming.
Increased consolidation among large hospital systems is one trend that is driving patient prices even higher. There are several negative side effects of hospital consolidation that families and patients should be aware of – namely, a hike in medical costs due to new ownership of certain medical facilities through consolidation. When large hospitals buy up independent practices and small labs or treatment centers, they bump up the prices of regular appointments and treatments, even though the delivery of service itself has not changed. Understandably, patients are confused and frustrated when they see their bills go up unexpectedly after a doctor’s appointment.
Alabamians of all ages and backgrounds need access to quality and affordable care options. Not only does our state have a high prevalence of multiple chronic conditions compared to the rest of the country, but our residents also have higher rates of obesity and premature deaths. We also know that our state has higher levels of income inequality. Put together, all these factors are worsening the chasm in public health as thousands of Alabamians cannot afford the quality health care they need. Lack of transparency in hospital billing only intensifies the public health battles we are already grappling with in our state.
I am glad to see that there is a solution to address unfair hospital billing in Congress. The Facilitating Accountability in Reimbursements Act (FAIR) in the House and the Site-based Invoicing and Transparency Enhancement Act (SITE) in the Senate would implement fair billing practices that reflect the service received – not the location or ownership of the facility. Remarkably, fair billing policies – which can lead to site-neutral payment reforms like those in the SITE Act – are projected to reduce national health expenditures by as much as $672 billion. It is up to our leaders like Representative Terri Sewell and her fellow Alabama Representatives in Washington to propel the FAIR Act forward in the House, and for Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville to follow suit with the SITE Act.
I am a fervent believer in investing in the next generation to build a stronger, more secure future in our state and across the country. This effort needs the support of collective voices – educators, students, veterans, patients, healthcare professionals, and more. Affording health care is imperative for all of us. We must ensure people can utilize our healthcare system to take care of themselves and their families now and in the future. Solutions today to improve our healthcare system are critically important for tomorrow’s success.
Jared Norrell is a retired Lt. Colonel from the United States Army and the former President of Southern Preparatory Military Academy in Camp Hill, Alabama.
