Three Northwest suburban hospitals accused of not properly providing pricing information

Three behavioral health hospitals in the Northwest suburbs are among the medical facilities the Trump administration says have failed to provide the public with basic pricing information.

Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System was sent a letter of warning from the federal government over the issue, while Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates and Chicago Behavioral Hospital in Des Plaines were sent more severe requests for plans to provide transparent pricing. Failing to comply can result in penalties of up to $2 million annually.

A Daily Herald review of the three facilities’ websites revealed all offer price guides for standard services.

Representatives of the three hospitals couldn’t be reached Friday.

At least 21 hospitals in Illinois and more than 500 nationwide have received warnings or requests about pricing transparency since April, according to a list acquired by The Associated Press.

As of earlier this summer, 47 hospitals in Texas had been sent such communiqués, more than any other state. Alaska was the only state with no hospitals on the list.

Trump signed an executive order in 2019, during his first term, that required hospitals to disclose privately negotiated charges with commercial health insurers. The order was meant to ensure patients, employers and insurers know ahead of time the costs of blood work, imaging tests or other treatments and to prevent overpayment.

The American Hospital Association unsuccessfully challenged the order in court, arguing it wouldn’t actually help patients understand what they pay for treatments.

Trump followed up last year with another executive order that directed the departments of the treasury, labor and health and human services to enforce the 2019 price transparency regulations.

• Daily Herald wire services contributed to this report.

What’s up, doc?

Pricing information for the three Northwest suburban behavioral health facilities targeted by the federal government is available on their websites:

Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital: healthcare.ascension.org/price-transparency

Chicago Behavioral Hospital: tinyurl.com/4n8j8vrv

Streamwood Behavioral Health Care System: streamwoodhospital.com/standard-services/