CHECK Act of 2026

Key Points

• Doctors and hospitals must give patients a detailed, plain language itemized bill within 30 days of getting their final insurance payment, listing costs, billing codes, and any charity care options.
• Providers cannot send patients to debt collections without first providing that itemized bill, and cannot charge more than their original cost estimate unless they prove unforeseen complications caused the extra cost.
• Insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, and plan administrators must share pricing formulas, rebate totals, and reimbursement data with the employers or governments that sponsor the health plan, at no cost, at least every quarter.
• Patients must get a clear explanation of benefits within 45 days of a claim, showing what insurance paid, what they owe, and how much of their deductible has been met.
• Companies that withhold required pricing data face fines of $100,000 per day, while providers that skip the itemized billing rules face fines up to $10,000 per violation.