First time in history you can shop for medical services
Beginning January 1, 2023, you will have access to a Price Transparency Tool to:
- Actively shop for your care
- Compare costs for the same services at different facilities
- Compare costs by providers
The Price Transparency Tool is part of the historic legislation passed in The Consolidated Appropriations, 2021, (“CAA”), and is considered the most important health care law passed since the Affordable Care Act.
The intent of the law is to hold the health care system accountable by: enabling consumers to evaluate health care options and to make cost-conscious decisions; strengthening, supporting and protecting consumers as they engage in “consumerism;” reducing potential surprises to individual consumers’ out-of-pocket costs for health care services; creating competition between providers that offer the same items and services in the same health care markets; and putting pressure on prices, which, in turn, could lower overall health care costs.
How you can participate
Central PA Teamsters Health & Welfare and Pension Funds will make the Price Transparency tool available to you starting January 1, 2023. The tool will be linked from the Central PA Teamsters Health & Welfare and Pension Funds home page, and in compliance with legislative requirements, all transparency elements will also be available by phone, tablet, computer and telephonically. Legislation has specified a list of 500 services which must be searchable on the portal as of January 1, 2023, and all services will be shoppable on January 1, 2024. MedExpert’s Price Transparency Tool is ahead of legislative requirements and will have thousands of available services this January.
How to Get Started
Be an early bird! If you have not done so already, you can register on MedExpert’s portal at cpateamsters.medexperthealth.com. Before January 1, 2023, you will be able to review your medical claims and familiarize yourself with the website. After January 1 you will be able to click on a shopping cart, enter the medical procedure or service you are shopping for, select the distance from home, view a map that shows your options, and expand each provider to be able to compare the prices for your selected service at various locations. And if you want assistance at any time, you can call MedExpert at 800-999-1999.
Take advantage of the information. America’s health care system will be strengthened by giving all Americans the information necessary to make health care purchasing decisions. Here is a chance to do your part to make the entire system better and avoid any surprise bills!
