Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Rep. John James (MI-10), along with Reps. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) Don Davis (NC-01), and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) introduced the groundbreaking “Patients Deserve Price Tags Act” to bring transparency to our health care system. 

The proposed law would strengthen hospital and health coverage price transparency requirements, ensuring patients and families can access clear, upfront information about the cost of their care before they receive it. The legislation builds on existing transparency standards but closes key loopholes, increases enforcement, and makes information usable for consumers. It also gives patients real-time, personalized cost estimates through online tools, while ensuring options for paper and phone access for those without reliable internet.

“Why is health care exponentially more expensive now than 10 or 15 years ago?”said Rep. John James. “Because when government gets involved, costs go up while efficiency and access go down. That’s exactly why medical debt is now the largest source of debt in our country—that’s wrong and we cannot continue this failing status quo. When you buy a car or any other good, you know the exact price up front. Only in health care are patients blindsided by surprise and hidden bills they never saw coming. My bill exposes hidden costs and holds hospitals and greedy insurers accountable for predatory pricing. Shifting power to the people and away from the ‘sickcare’ cartels will increase transparency, choice, quality, health and affordability for every American!”

 “As a nurse practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how confusing and stressful it can be for families to navigate the health care system—especially when it comes to the cost of care. Patients deserve clear, upfront information so they can make the best decisions for their health and their finances. The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act is a commonsense, bipartisan effort to strengthen price transparency, close loopholes, and hold hospitals and insurers accountable. I’m proud to work across the aisle to empower patients and bring real transparency to health care.” –Congresswoman Jen Kiggans 

“Patients and their families cannot make the best decisions for their healthcare without full price transparency,” said Congressman Don Davis. “Congress must act to provide everyone with equal access to the healthcare information they need to make the choices that are best for them.”

 “For far too long, people in New Hampshire and across America have been forced to deal with a healthcare system that is way too expensive and feels like it is designed to confuse. That's just not right. We've got price tags on most things we buy, from cars to cups of coffee to airline tickets. The same should be true when it comes to healthcare. That’s why I am proud to help lead this bipartisan bill to ensure patients know the cost of care up front, crack down on hidden fees and loopholes, and return the power back to the people. I'm not going to quit until we lower healthcare costs in this country, because no American should go without the care they need, when they need it and where they need it.” –Rep. Maggie Goodlander

“The Patients Deserve Price Tags Act represents the gold standard for price transparency and accountability legislation in the 119th Congress. In addition to codifying President Trump’s Hospital Price Transparency and Transparence in Coverage rules, this legislation would ensure employers and purchasers have full and unfettered access to their own medical and pharmacy claims data – their receipts for service. For far too long, health insurance carriers have blocked access to this critical data. Full access to actionable claims data will create a more functional health care market and enable employers to create more innovative plan designs focused on lower prices and better quality. The National Alliance applauds your leadership and looks forward to working to get this legislation enacted this year.” –National Alliance of Healthcare Purchasers Coalition.

“The data access rights provisions of the bill are foundational to being a fiduciary to a health benefit plan.  Those that pay the bills deserve to see all of the data,” said Bret Jackson, President and CEO of the Economic Alliance for Michigan. 

Key Provisions:

• All hospitals must publish standard charges and shoppable services in a standardized, machine-readable format, with penalties of up to $10 million for persistent violators.
• Group health plans and insurers must provide personalized cost estimates through an online self-service tool, as well as paper or phone options, and publish machine-readable files with negotiated rates, out-of-network charges, and prescription drug prices.
• The bill enhances monitoring and compliance reviews and requires public posting of noncompliant hospitals and penalties.
• Hospitals must take reasonable steps to make pricing information accessible to patients with limited English proficiency.

This legislation is supported by a diverse coalition of patient and employer advocates, including Patient Rights Advocate, the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchasers Coalition, the Economic Alliance for Michigan, ERISA Industry Committee, Families USA, and Sun Life Assurance.

To view the full bill text, click here.

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