Hospital Childbirth Costs Soar Despite Transparency Rule

Emily Taylor faced unexpected hospital bills after childbirth, despite insurance coverage. She received a $1200 bill 18 months later, which was eventually waived after inquiries. However, she was charged $5800 for a nursery she couldn't use due to COVID isolation. Childbirth costs have risen due to lack of price transparency, with hospitals charging for every item. The 2021 price transparency rule requires hospitals to post procedure prices online, but compliance is low. Taylor advises checking bills line by line to avoid surprise charges.

How have childbirth costs changed since the early 2000s according to the text?

What percentage of hospitals are estimated to be following the price transparency rule implemented in 2021?