Court tosses $300,000 hospital bill for promised $1,300 charge
CBSN
Colorado's Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a woman who expected to pay about $1,300 for spinal fusion surgery but was billed more than $300,000 by a suburban Denver hospital that allegedly included charges it never disclosed she might be liable for.
This week's ruling in favor of Lisa French, who underwent two surgeries in 2014, follows efforts by many U.S. states and the federal government to help curb health care costs by restricting or eliminating so-called "surprise billing" and requiring increased price transparency for consumers.
In a unanimous opinion, the Colorado justices ruled Monday that agreements French signed before surgery at St. Anthony North Health Campus in Westminster don't compel her to pay the extra charges, which stemmed from a then-secret list of prices for services that hadn't been disclosed to her.

Property taxes around the U.S. have long been a lightning rod for debate, with political leaders perpetually balancing the need to fund their budget priorities against the risk of alienating homeowners and businesses. This week, for example, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sparked an uproar by proposing to close a budget hole by sharply raising property taxes. Edited by Alain Sherter In:

The two rounds of indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran have produced unique proposals addressing Iran's nuclear program — its enrichment capabilities and supply of highly enriched uranium — and how to make a deal that's economically beneficial to both countries, diplomatic sources tell CBS News.











