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Congress·In Committee·5 months ago

House Bill Would Force Hospitals to Post Prices Monthly, Accept Cash Rates as Full Payment

Also known as: Patients Deserve Price Tags Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impacts

Positive Impacts(2)
Chronic Illness
Helps
Aca Marketplace
Helps

Key Points

  • Hospitals would have to post their prices every month, for free and without a login, including cash prices and insurer-negotiated prices.
  • Hospitals would need a consumer-friendly list of at least 300 “shop ahead” services through 2026, then list all such services after that.
  • If you pay cash, the hospital would have to accept its posted discounted cash price as payment in full, no matter what insurance you have.
  • Starting in 2027, many labs, imaging centers, and certain surgery centers would also have to post similar price lists, with penalties for not doing it.
  • Health plans would have to give clearer cost tools and more detailed explanations of benefits, and providers would have to send itemized bills before trying collections.
HealthcareConsumer ProtectionData Privacy

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Sep 26, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sep 26, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

2026-01-01

Hospitals must start meeting the new, stronger hospital price posting rules.

You should be able to find hospital prices online for many services without logging in or paying, and hospitals must offer a posted cash price they have to honor if you pay cash.

2026-01-01

The Secretary sets the standard formats hospitals must use for their public price files.

Hospital price lists should become easier to download and compare across hospitals because they must follow one uniform spreadsheet style.

2026-01-01

New insurance transparency changes begin for health plans (cost tool requirements and other updates in the bill).

When you check your benefits, you should get clearer, more accurate “what you’ll pay” answers, and you can ask for paper or phone disclosures at no cost instead of being forced online.

2026-01-01

New explanation-of-benefits timing and detail rules apply for plan years starting on/after this date.

After your doctor visit, test, or procedure, your plan generally has to send a detailed breakdown (what was billed, what the plan paid, and what you owe) within 45 days of the payment request.

2027-01-01

Hospitals must expand from “at least 300 shoppable services” to “all shoppable services” on their consumer-friendly lists after this date.

More services should have easy-to-read prices posted online, not just a limited list.

2027-01-01

Health plans must begin monthly public posting/submission of detailed rate and payment files.

Researchers, employers, and consumers could compare plan-negotiated prices more easily; plans also face higher compliance pressure due to audits and officer attestations.

2027-01-01

The Secretary sets the standard formats for labs and imaging providers to post their prices.

Lab and imaging price files should become more consistent and easier to shop across providers.

2027-07-01

Labs, imaging centers, and certain ambulatory surgery centers begin their price transparency posting requirements.

You should have better up-front prices for common tests (like bloodwork), scans (like MRIs), and many outpatient procedures—especially if you are paying cash or have a high deductible.

Related News

4 articles
Axios·7 months ago

Health Care: Rural health decisions

Sens. Roger Marshall and John Hickenlooper introduced the 'Patients Deserve Price Tags Act' last week. It would require public reporting of negotiated rates, costs and cash prices for services provided at hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers and clinical labs.

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Health Affairs·3 months ago

Unpacking The Price Transparency Provisions Of The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act

The bill aims to expand and improve transparency efforts through three approaches: improving billing-related information for patients, strengthening employers' access to information about the health plans they sponsor, and building on existing federal price transparency requirements.

C=
InsuranceNewsNet·3 months ago

GOP unity tested as lawmakers seek health plan to counter Democrats' Obamacare subsidy extension

The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act requires health care providers to publish the costs of their services, including cash prices for patients who want to pay out of pocket, in addition to rates providers have negotiated with insurers.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Patients Deserve Price Tags Act

Bill NumberHR 5582
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(8)
D: 4R: 4

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.