RALEIGH, - Patients who are puzzled by their medical bills would get some answers under a proposal passed by the state Senate on Thursday.

The legislation requires hospitals to disclose prices for the 100 most common inpatient admissions. Cost information for surgical and other procedures performed outside a hospital would also be published by the

Department of Health and Human Services. Senator Bob Rucho of Mecklenburg County says “one hospital charged $8,000, while another charged $38,000”