Hospital Transparency Compliance Enforcement Act | ChamberLight

IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS

Senate BillS 729Cardiovascular and respiratory healthCivil actions and liability

Hospital Transparency Compliance Enforcement Act

INTRO FEB 25· LAST ACTION FEB 25

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Passed House

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Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

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This bill addresses the ongoing issue of hidden healthcare costs, which often leave patients with unexpected and high medical bills. Currently, many hospitals do not fully comply with existing price transparency rules, making it difficult for consumers to compare prices for common procedures and services. If this bill becomes law, it would put more pressure on hospitals to clearly display their prices, which could empower patients to 'shop around' for healthcare services and potentially negotiate better rates.

If the bill doesn't become law, the current situation of inconsistent price transparency is likely to continue. Many patients would still struggle to find out the cost of care upfront, leading to continued frustration and financial surprises. This bill aims to bring more clarity and accountability to healthcare pricing, making it a critical step for voters concerned about rising healthcare costs and medical bill transparency.

KEY PROVISIONS

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PROVISION 01

Requires all hospitals to establish and make public their price lists within 6 months of the law's enactment, and annually thereafter, including newly operating hospitals.

This sets clear, mandatory deadlines for price transparency, aiming to ensure consistent and up-to-date pricing information is available to the public.

PROVISION 02

Prohibits hospitals from using webpage coding or other methods to hide their required pricing information from online search results.

This ensures that the price information, once published, is actually accessible and discoverable by consumers using common search tools.

PROVISION 03

Establishes a tiered system of civil monetary penalties for hospitals that fail to comply with price transparency requirements, based on their bed count.

These new, significantly higher penalties aim to provide a stronger incentive for hospitals to comply with the transparency rules.

PROVISION 04

Requires the Secretary to publish a list of hospitals that are not in compliance with the price transparency requirements, updated regularly.

This provision creates public accountability, allowing consumers and regulators to easily identify non-compliant hospitals.

SPONSORSHIP

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ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

FEB 25

Introduced in Senate

INTROREFERRAL

FEB 25

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

INTROREFERRAL

BILL INFO

TypeSenate Bill

NumberS 729

Congress119th

StatusIn Committee

IntroducedFeb 25, 2025

Last actionFeb 25, 2025

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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 25, 2025

Senate BillS 729Cardiovascular and respiratory healthCivil actions and liability

Hospital Transparency Compliance Enforcement Act

INTRODUCED FEB 25, 2025· LAST ACTION FEB 25, 2025

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

3 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 2 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed Senate

Passed House

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Requires all hospitals to establish and make public their price lists within 6 months of the law's enactment, and annually thereafter, including newly operating hospitals.

This sets clear, mandatory deadlines for price transparency, aiming to ensure consistent and up-to-date pricing information is available to the public.

med

Prohibits hospitals from using webpage coding or other methods to hide their required pricing information from online search results.

This ensures that the price information, once published, is actually accessible and discoverable by consumers using common search tools.

high

Establishes a tiered system of civil monetary penalties for hospitals that fail to comply with price transparency requirements, based on their bed count.

These new, significantly higher penalties aim to provide a stronger incentive for hospitals to comply with the transparency rules.

med

Requires the Secretary to publish a list of hospitals that are not in compliance with the price transparency requirements, updated regularly.

This provision creates public accountability, allowing consumers and regulators to easily identify non-compliant hospitals.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment, and every year thereafter.

Existing hospitals must establish and update their public price list.

Not later than 6 months after the date of operation, and every year thereafter.

Newly operating hospitals must establish and update their public price list.

Not later than 60 calendar days after the notice of penalty, or 60 calendar days after a final decision if appealed.

Hospitals must pay civil monetary penalties.

280 days after the date of enactment, and every 180 days thereafter.

The Secretary must publish a list of non-compliant hospitals.

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

TYPE	AMOUNT	WHO
civil	Not to exceed $600 for each day of non-compliance	Hospitals with a bed count of 30 or fewer
civil	Not to exceed $20 per bed for each day of non-compliance	Hospitals with a bed count greater than 30 and equal to or fewer than 550
civil	Not to exceed $11,000 for each day of non-compliance	Hospitals with a bed count greater than 550

GLOSSARY

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Public Health Service Act: A major law that governs a broad range of public health programs and services in the United States, including aspects of healthcare facility regulation.
Price Transparency Requirements: Rules that require hospitals to make public their standard charges for items and services, allowing consumers to see what they might pay.
Civil Monetary Penalty: A fine imposed by a government agency for a violation of a law or regulation, which does not involve criminal charges but requires a payment of money.
Secretary: Refers to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who is the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and responsible for implementing these regulations.
Date of enactment: The date on which a bill officially becomes a law after passing through both chambers of Congress and being signed by the President, or otherwise becoming law.

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

FEB 25, 25

Introduced in Senate

INTROREFERRAL

FEB 25, 25

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

INTROREFERRAL

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Committee Referrals

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions CommitteeReferred

Feb 25, 2025

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Hospital Transparency Compliance Enforcement Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

Hospital Transparency Compliance Enforcement Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

PENALTIES & ENFORCEMENT

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

READER REACTIONS

What do you think?

Discussion

MORE INFORMATION

Committee Referrals