Hospitals, Health Systems Recognized for Price Transparency Compliance

Fifteen hospitals and health systems have been recognized for their compliance with the federal price transparency regulations.

PatientRightsAdvocate.org created The Price Transparency Champion Award to acknowledge hospitals, health systems, and public officials that have demonstrated a commitment to following price transparency requirements.

The price transparency rule requires hospitals to publicly publish the costs of items and services on their website. Facilities must present the information in a single machine-readable digital file that includes gross charges, discounted cash prices, and payer-specific negotiated charges. They must also post standard charges of at least 300 shoppable services in a consumer-friendly format.

“I congratulate each recipient from across the nation and applaud them for advancing meaningful price transparency for patients and healthcare consumers,” Cynthia Fisher, founder and chairman of PatientRightsAdvocate.org, said in the press release.

“In our ongoing advocacy for systemwide healthcare price transparency, it is important to recognize those who are leading the way in supporting every patient’s right to accurate, upfront prices. Through their price transparency commitments, we can usher in a more accessible, equitable, and affordable healthcare system that puts patients over profits. PRA is proud to salute these hospitals and leaders for both setting an example and helping unleash a true healthcare marketplace that is functional, competitive, and fair for all Americans.”

The following hospitals and hospital system recipients have shown a commitment to price transparency by complying with the regulations and, in some cases, demonstrating significant improvements in compliance.

Hospitals:

• Best-in-Class: Rush University Medical Center – Chicago, IL
• Baton Rouge General - Mid City – Baton Rouge, LA
• Grandview Medical Center – Birmingham, AL
• Mercy Hospital Downtown Bakersfield – Bakersfield, CA
• MetroHealth Medical Center – Cleveland, OH
• Pullman Regional Hospital – Pullman, WA
• Ridgeview Medical Center – Waconia, MN
• Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick – New Brunswick, NJ
• Saint Tammany Parish Hospital – Covington, LA
• UW Health University Hospital – Madison, WI

Hospital Systems:

• Kaiser Permanente – Oakland, CA (98% compliance)
• Community Health Systems – Franklin, TN (97% compliance)
• Universal Health Services – King of Prussia, PA (92% compliance)
• CommonSpirit Health – Chicago, IL (88% compliance)
• LifePoint Health – Brentwood, TN (83% compliance)

Elected officials were recognized for demonstrating leadership in enforcing and strengthening healthcare price transparency at the state or federal level. The following officials received an award:

• U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Fifth District of Washington
• U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Sixth District of New Jersey
• Governor Jared Polis, Colorado

Last month, PatientRightsAdvocate.org released its fifth Semi-Annual Hospital Price Transparency Compliance Report. The organization found that only 36 percent of 2,000 hospitals fully complied with the price transparency rule.

Almost two-thirds of hospitals reviewed (64 percent) did not publish a complete machine-readable file of standard charges, while 39 percent did not post all payer-specific negotiated charges clearly associated with each third-party payer and plan.

As of April 2023, only four hospitals have received civil monetary penalties from CMS for noncompliance with the rule. However, the agency announced that it will start imposing stricter deadlines on hospitals to complete corrective action plans, which may lead to more penalties.