Patients Deserve Price Tags Act

Increased Transparency for Hospital Services: Hospitals must disclose standard charges, gross charges, and discounted cash prices for items and services, helping patients understand costs before receiving care. (Section 2)

Clearer Pricing for Lab Tests and Imaging: Clinical diagnostic laboratories and imaging service providers are required to make their prices, including negotiated charges and cash prices, available on their websites. (Section 3 and Section 4)

Predictable Costs for Surgical Centers: Ambulatory surgical centers must publish lists of their standard charges and prices for shoppable services. (Section 5)

Better Health Plan Information: Health plans must provide self-service tools that offer real-time responses regarding in-network rates, cost-sharing amounts, and deductible accumulation. (Section 6)

Improved Access to Health Data: Group health plans will have increased access to claims and encounter information, allowing for better determination of payment accuracy. (Section 7)

Standardized Itemized Billing: Providers must provide written, itemized bills that include plain language descriptions, billing codes, and information on charity care policies. (Section 11)

Protection Against Unexpected Charges: Providers are prohibited from taking collection actions if they have not complied with itemized billing requirements or if the bill exceeds a good faith estimate without documented medical necessity. (Section 11)

Penalties for Non-Compliance: Hospitals, laboratories, and other providers may face significant civil monetary penalties if they fail to meet the new transparency and reporting requirements. (Section 2, Section 3, Section 4, and Section 5)

Burden of Compliance for Providers: Hospitals and surgical centers are required to compile and make public extensive charge information, which includes maintaining specific formats and undergoing annual compliance reviews. (Section 2 and Section 5)

Potential for Increased Costs for Plans: Health plans are required to submit detailed rate and payment information and undergo audits, which may involve increased administrative efforts. (Section 6)