The purpose of 50-4-510 through 50-4-512 is to provide health care consumers with better information on the cost of their medical care and to introduce elements of competition into the marketplace. Upon request of a patient or a patient’s agent, a health care provider, outpatient center for surgical services, clinic, or hospital shall provide the patient or the patient’s agent with its estimated charge for a health care service or course of treatment that exceeds $ 500