Many Hospitals Still Stubbornly Noncompliant With Federal Transparency Rules

On Jan. 1, 2021, a new federal law required hospitals to post all prices for the 300 most common procedures online and in a way that is easily accessible and understandable to the average consumers.

How is it going? Not so well, it seems.

Four years later, Patient Rights Advocate (PRA) found approximately 1 in 5 hospitals nationwide are compliant. Even worse, the group’s latest report finds fewer hospitals are following the law because of its weak enforcement.

In February 2024, the group found 34.5% of hospitals nationwide were fully compliant with the disclosure rules. By November 2024, that number had fallen dramatically to 21.1 percent.

“By keeping their prices hidden, hospitals continue to block American consumers from their right to compare prices and protect themselves from overcharges,” said PRA Chairman and Founder Cynthia Fisher.

In the wake of the latest findings, Fisher has asked President-elect Donald Trump to get tougher on hospitals and transparency. What about you? Have you checked prices posted by your local hospital? What did you learn? Tell us at Voices for Affordable Health