Rock Band Sheds Light on Health Care Price Transparency 

By Consumers for Quality Care, on March 13, 2024

The Foo Fighters recently partnered with health care advocacy organization Power to the Patients, performing a private concert in Washington, D.C. for members of Congress, their staff, and health care stakeholders, according to Fierce Healthcare. The purpose of the concert was to bring attention to inadequate price-transparency standards in health care, urging lawmakers to support several bills aimed at improving these standards. 

“When we were asked by Power to the Patients to help raise awareness of the need for transparency in healthcare pricing, we immediately said yes. People suffering from illness and injury shouldn’t have to worry about being bankrupted by surprise charges for their treatment,” the band said.  

Price-transparency legislation has the support of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. The House passed a strong bipartisan bill at the end of last year that would require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to meet transparency standards, and another price transparency bill was introduced in the Senate in December. 

This is not the first time Power to the Patients has used star power to spread their message. Last spring, rapper Fat Joe partnered with the group, meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to bring attention to medical debt and medical billing practices. And earlier this year, Power to the Patients aired an ad during the Super Bowl featuring celebrities and musicians.  

A recent survey, conducted by Marist and sponsored by Patient Rights Advocate, found significant support among consumers for stronger price transparency. Nearly all respondents (94 percent) complained about the lack of price transparency in the health care system, and urged health care organizations to make their prices known before care is provided. 

Consumers for Quality Care believes patients have a right to the information they need to compare costs and make informed decisions about their health care.