LANSING – An organization led by former Rep. Andrew “Rocky” Raczkowski is asking Attorney General Bill Schuette to enforce the Michigan Consumer Protection Act’s language prohibiting charging “a price that is grossly in excess of the price at which similar property or services are sold” against hospitals.
Raczkowski said Schuette concludes he has no authority to enforce the law against hospitals – and the law appears to exempt them – he said he would urge the Legislature to amend the law to make the change. Failing that, Raczkowski vowed to have the group, Stop Overcharging, pursue a ballot proposal in 2014 to amend the statute.
Raczkowski is pressing the case, raised by the Time magazine article “Bitter Pill” earlier this year, that hospitals are wildly overcharging patients and charging hugely different prices to different patients. Hospitals have said the varying prices reflect discounts they provide to patients covered by insurers that bring substantial volume to their hospital.
Raczkowski said those covered by auto insurance or no insurance at all tend to have to pay far more for the same procedures as those covered by private insurance, Medicare and other plans.
Schuette’s office was not immediately available for comment.
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