Washington, D.C. — The Bank Policy Institute and Consumer Bankers Association (“the Associations”) addressed misconceptions surrounding medical payment products in a letter today to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Treasury Department (“the Agencies”). The Agencies issued a request for information (RFI) in July that wrongly asserts that “medical payment products” — a term the Agencies do not define — are responsible for the high cost and disfavored practices of healthcare service providers, hospitals and insurance companies.
“Many consumers do not have access to sufficient funds to pay the full cost of a particular healthcare service using liquid funds,” the Associations wrote. “Having different options to pay for medical care, each with different terms and features, provides consumers with the ability to select a payment product that best suits his or her individual needs and finances.”
The Agencies only briefly acknowledge this benefit in the RFI, stating “[i]n some cases, medical payment products may allow patients to access care they would otherwise have to forgo,” but fail to further examine these benefits and instead attempt to blame the availability of payment options for the Agencies’ broader criticisms of the U.S. healthcare system.
Put simply, limiting medical payment options will harm consumers, not help. The Associations point out the following in their letter:
- The availability of different means of payment expands consumers’ access to health care. Many consumers do not have cash on hand to cover major medical expenses, especially if unexpected or unanticipated, and having a variety of ways to pay makes these services accessible for consumers in different financial circumstances.
- The RFI wrongly attributes the high cost of health care and harmful practices of healthcare providers, hospitals, and insurance companies to the availability of “medical payment products.” Suggesting that banks and card providers are responsible for rising healthcare costs is incorrect and not grounded in evidence.
The Associations believe that the issues the Agencies are concerned about regarding high healthcare costs are best addressed by Congress, state legislatures, insurance and other appropriate regulators rather than placing limits on payment options available to consumers for healthcare services.
To access a copy of the letter, please click here.
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About Bank Policy Institute
The Bank Policy Institute (BPI) is a nonpartisan public policy, research and advocacy group, representing the nation’s leading banks and their customers. Our members include universal banks, regional banks and the major foreign banks doing business in the United States. Collectively, they employ almost 2 million Americans, make nearly half of the nation’s small business loans, and are an engine for financial innovation and economic growth.
About the Consumer Bankers Association
The Consumer Bankers Association represents America’s leading retail banks. We promote policies to create a stronger industry and economy. Established in 1919, CBA’s corporate member institutions account for 1.7 million jobs in America, extend roughly $4 trillion in consumer loans and provide $275 billion in small business loans annually. Follow us on Twitter @consumerbankers.
Media Contact
Austin Anton
Bank Policy Institute
austin.anton@bpi.com
Weston Loyd
Consumer Bankers Association
wloyd@consumerbankers.com
