HHS launches contest to make bills simpler

The Department of Health and Human Services wants to make people’s medical bills easier to understand. 

{mosads}HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell is announcing a competition to design a medical bill that is clearer and simpler. The winner will receive a $5,000 prize. 

“People who use health care in the U.S. today can often receive bills from multiple hospitals, doctors, labs or specialists for the same episode of care that vary in content, presentation and use of health industry jargon,” HHS says. “Because of this, it can be difficult for patients to understand what they owe, what their insurance plan covers, and whether the bills are correct or complete.”

The “A Bill You Can Understand” challenge seeks to change that. 

A range of hospitals, which together have over 10 million patients, have agreed to try out the winning medical bill design. 

The announcement of the contest comes as part of the “Health Datapalooza” conference in Washington, D.C., which explores ways to use data in healthcare. 

Submissions will be accepted until Aug. 10 on the challenge website.