Good news!
In 2023, a law passed in Colorado limiting when hospitals and health systems can charge “facility fees” and creating transparency requirements to protect consumers from surprise charges.
As of July 1, 2024, health care facilities and providers can no longer charge consumers facility fees for preventive health services (see here for a list of included services) accessed at outpatient health care facilities, such as doctor’s offices. Hospitals and health systems must now notify consumers at multiple points if they may be charged a facility fee on top of the regular cost of the visit, giving people the opportunity to seek a different provider or adequately budget for the total bill.