Senate BillS 2355Civil actions and liabilityDrug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Patients Deserve Price Tags Act
INTRO JUL 17· LAST ACTION JUL 27
READING
156MIN
COSPONSORS
24BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 3 / 8
Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-written
This bill addresses a major pain point for many Americans: not knowing the cost of healthcare until after they've received it. Currently, it's often difficult to get clear, upfront pricing for medical services, leading to unexpected and sometimes devastating bills. If this bill becomes law, it would give patients the power to compare costs between hospitals for common services, much like shopping for any other major expense.
If it passes, people could make more informed decisions about where to seek care, potentially driving down costs through competition and helping them budget for healthcare. If it doesn't pass, the current system of opaque pricing would largely continue, leaving many patients guessing about their financial responsibility and vulnerable to high, unanticipated medical bills. This transparency could lead to greater accountability in the healthcare system.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extracted
PROVISION 01
Requires hospitals to publicly disclose all their "standard charges" monthly, including gross prices, discounted cash prices, all payer-specific negotiated charges, and de-identified maximum and minimum negotiated charges for every item and service.
Gives patients and the public a comprehensive view of what hospitals charge and what they've agreed to with insurers, fostering competition and informed decision-making.
PROVISION 02
Mandates that hospitals present prices for at least 300 "shoppable services" in a consumer-friendly format by the end of 2026, expanding to all shoppable services thereafter, with the government setting uniform presentation standards.
Makes it easier for average consumers to understand and compare prices for common procedures and tests across different hospitals without needing to decipher complex billing codes.
PROVISION 03
Requires a senior hospital official (CEO, CFO, or equivalent) to annually attest to the accuracy and completeness of their price disclosures, making non-compliance a serious issue related to federal payments.
Adds a layer of accountability, ensuring that hospitals take the transparency requirements seriously and provide accurate information.
PROVISION 04
Establishes a system for monitoring hospital compliance at least annually and subjects non-compliant hospitals to civil monetary penalties if they fail to address issues within 45 days of notification.
Provides enforcement mechanisms to ensure hospitals actually follow the rules, rather than simply having requirements without consequences.
PROVISION 05
Specifies that hospitals must accept the "discounted cash price" as full payment from any patient choosing to pay cash, regardless of their insurance status.
Offers a clear, guaranteed price for self-pay patients and could make healthcare more accessible for the uninsured or those seeking to avoid insurance processing.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
COMMITTEE
JUL 27
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 522.
CALENDARS
JUL 22
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
COMMITTEE
MAR 19
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
This bill addresses a major pain point for many Americans: not knowing the cost of healthcare until after they've received it. Currently, it's often difficult to get clear, upfront pricing for medical services, leading to unexpected and sometimes devastating bills. If this bill becomes law, it would give patients the power to compare costs between hospitals for common services, much like shopping for any other major expense.
If it passes, people could make more informed decisions about where to seek care, potentially driving down costs through competition and helping them budget for healthcare. If it doesn't pass, the current system of opaque pricing would largely continue, leaving many patients guessing about their financial responsibility and vulnerable to high, unanticipated medical bills. This transparency could lead to greater accountability in the healthcare system.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Requires hospitals to publicly disclose all their "standard charges" monthly, including gross prices, discounted cash prices, all payer-specific negotiated charges, and de-identified maximum and minimum negotiated charges for every item and service.
Gives patients and the public a comprehensive view of what hospitals charge and what they've agreed to with insurers, fostering competition and informed decision-making.
high
Mandates that hospitals present prices for at least 300 "shoppable services" in a consumer-friendly format by the end of 2026, expanding to all shoppable services thereafter, with the government setting uniform presentation standards.
Makes it easier for average consumers to understand and compare prices for common procedures and tests across different hospitals without needing to decipher complex billing codes.
med
Requires a senior hospital official (CEO, CFO, or equivalent) to annually attest to the accuracy and completeness of their price disclosures, making non-compliance a serious issue related to federal payments.
Adds a layer of accountability, ensuring that hospitals take the transparency requirements seriously and provide accurate information.
high
Establishes a system for monitoring hospital compliance at least annually and subjects non-compliant hospitals to civil monetary penalties if they fail to address issues within 45 days of notification.
Provides enforcement mechanisms to ensure hospitals actually follow the rules, rather than simply having requirements without consequences.
med
Specifies that hospitals must accept the "discounted cash price" as full payment from any patient choosing to pay cash, regardless of their insurance status.
Offers a clear, guaranteed price for self-pay patients and could make healthcare more accessible for the uninsured or those seeking to avoid insurance processing.
Not specified in the provided text, only states 'shall be subject to a civil monetary penalty of an amou...'
Hospitals that fail to comply with transparency requirements within 45 days of a corrective action plan request.
GLOSSARY
AI-written
Standard Charges
The full list of prices a hospital has for every item and service, including what they bill directly, discounted cash prices, and rates negotiated with insurance companies.
Shoppable Services
Medical services that patients can realistically compare prices for and schedule in advance, like X-rays, lab tests, or common surgical procedures.
Gross Charge
The full, undiscounted price a hospital sets for a specific medical item or service before any discounts or insurance negotiations.
Discounted Cash Price
A reduced price offered by a hospital for an item or service when a patient pays for it entirely in cash, without involving insurance.
Payer-Specific Negotiated Charges
The specific prices that a hospital has agreed upon and contracted with individual health insurance companies and their various plans for different medical items and services.
Machine-Readable Spreadsheet Format
A digital file type, like a CSV or Excel file, that can be easily processed and analyzed by computers, allowing for data comparisons and analysis.
Attestation
ACTION TIMELINE
9 EVENTS
JUL 27
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
COMMITTEE
JUL 27
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 522.
CALENDARS
JUL 22
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
COMMITTEE
MAR 19
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
A formal, signed statement confirming that certain information is accurate and complete, in this case, by a senior hospital official regarding their price disclosures.
Civil Monetary Penalty
A financial fine imposed by the government for violating a law or regulation, which does not involve criminal charges.
