A tiny fraction of Ohio hospitals are fully complying with new federal price transparency rules, per the latest review by advocacy group Patient Rights Advocate.

Why it matters: Price transparency was supposed to usher in a future where patients could shop around for the best deal on medical procedures.

• But true competition between healthcare providers remains impossible because so many hospitals are failing to comply, per advocates.

What they're saying: "Ohio is probably one of the worst in the country in terms of making prices readily available for patients to see," Cynthia Fisher, the founder and director of Patient Rights Advocate, told Axios. The group has been tracking hospital compliance for three years.

Catch up quick: As of 2021, the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule requires hospitals to publish prices online in an accessible and searchable format for hundreds of common services.

• Advocates hope that the data will eventually enable tech companies to develop user-friendly apps to make price comparisons painless.

Reality check: Just 9% of hospitals in Ohio are in full compliance with the rule, per the most recent review.

• That's far below the 35% rate among the 2,000 hospitals reviewed nationally last month.

Zoom in: All the Ohio hospitals reviewed published pricing lists, but many were incomplete, leaving out costs for certain health plans, per Patient Rights.

• That means a patient with a high deductible insurance plan might be unable to judge whether a procedure's cash price would be cheaper than going through their insurance — a common scenario, Fisher said.

The other side: Columbus' largest hospital, OhioHealth's Riverside Methodist, was among those deemed noncompliant.

• A spokesman, Colin Yoder, said OhioHealth is "committed to providing transparent data about potential charges and complies with all applicable laws."
• He referred patients to the hospital's "robust" online price estimating tool.

Friction point: Groups such as the American Hospital Association have argued that compliance is higher than some reports suggest, Axios' Caitlin Owens reports.

• Meanwhile, Congress has expressed bipartisan concern over compliance and Patient Rights Advocate has urged President Biden to enforce existing rules more aggressively.

What we're watching: Last year the Ohio House passed state level price transparency requirements, but the bill has not progressed in the Senate.

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An estimated 6.2% of adult Ohioans identify as LGBT, compared with 5.5% nationally.

Context: The estimates come by way of the Williams Institute, a UCLA Law think tank, Alex Fitzpatrick and Kavya Beheraj report.

• They're based on combined 2020-2021 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Zoom in: Younger Ohio residents are more likely to self-identify as LGBT than older residents.

• 17.4% of Ohio adults ages 18-24 identify as LGBT, compared with 3.1% of those 50-64.

Reality check: These findings are based on self-reporting, and people in states with hostile attitudes toward queer and transgender communities may be less forthcoming about their identity.

What they're saying

Twenty years ago this week, the Ohio highway sniper was arrested in Las Vegas — ending a lengthy shooting spree that left one dead and the region paralyzed with fear.

Flashback: Charles McCoy spent months firing at moving cars from bridges overlooking some of the area's busiest highways, as well as at several homes and an elementary school.

• In total, two dozen shootings were reported across Central Ohio between May 2003 and February 2004, per news archives from the Dispatch, which won an award for its sniper coverage.

What they're saying: "Everywhere I went, friends, family, relatives would ask me: 'Should I change my route of travel? Should I change my behavior?' They were concerned that they might be next," said chief deputy Rick Minerd of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office in a video retrospective.

• It was tip No. 5,444 that led police to McCoy, a 28-year-old Grove City native diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

What happened: McCoy initially pleaded not guilty due to insanity.

• After the first trial ended in a hung jury, he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and other charges.
• He was sentenced to 27 years in prison and is eligible for release in 2031.

Columbus' annual interfaith Ramadan dinner is canceled after the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Ohio chapter declined to attend. (Dispatch)

• The group has criticized City Council for not supporting a ceasefire in Gaza.

📗 Local author Hanif Abdurraqib's latest book, "There's Always This Year," explores the local basketball scene and vulnerable moments of the writer's past. (Columbus Monthly)

🍰 A review of Seventh Son's vending machine cake finds it "exquisitely dense and tender." (Columbus Underground)

👶 Two Cincinnati Bengals teammates became fathers to baby girls on the same day last week. (WKRC-TV)

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The Buckeyes' quest for a national title begins today with a favorable match-up in front of hometown fans.

State of play: OSU (25-5) is a No. 2 seed in the March Madness bracket, making it one of the favorites for a deep tournament run.

• The team first takes on No. 15 Maine at noon tomorrow inside Value City Arena. Last-minute tickets are still available.
• ESPN gives the Buckeyes a 98% chance of victory.

Assuming they win, OSU then would host the winner of No. 7 Duke vs. No. 10 Richmond on Sunday.

The big picture: It takes six consecutive wins to earn the national trophy.

• The Buckeyes are said to have around a 29% chance of reaching the Final Four.

What we're watching: If we'll get any last entries to our newsletter bracket challenges for the men's and women's tournaments — the deadline is noon today. Details here.

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