CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

Roger Marshall (R-KS)

Patients Deserve Price Tags Act

S. 2355 · Senate bill Health

A Republican bill with 14 Democratic cosponsors · See all 25 cosponsors

Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 522.

Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote

A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.

This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.

Its path through Congress

  1. Introduced
  2. On Calendar

What this bill would do

This legislation, known as the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, amends the Public Health Service Act to require hospitals, clinical diagnostic laboratories, imaging service providers, and ambulatory surgical centers to make their standard prices publicly available on the internet.

The bill requires health plans and insurance issuers to provide individuals with self-service tools and regular data updates detailing in-network rates, out-of-network allowed amounts, and accumulated cost-sharing information.

Administrative service providers and pharmacy benefit managers must disclose fee structures, rebates, and payment methodologies to group health plans, prohibiting contracts that restrict data access.

The legislation mandates that health plans provide itemized explanations of benefits within a specified timeframe after receiving payment requests for medical items and services.

Healthcare providers are restricted from engaging in extraordinary collection actions or billing amounts substantially in excess of prior good faith estimates unless medically necessary.

The bill establishes enforcement mechanisms, civil monetary penalties for non-compliance, and audit requirements for federal agencies to oversee hospital and insurer price transparency.

Yes· 3 of 11

  • Scored +5

    Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act?

    The bill amends the ACA to enhance the transparency of health plan coverage and rate information.

  • Scored +5

    Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?

    The bill significantly increases transparency in healthcare billing and pricing.

  • Scored +5

    Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?

    The bill enhances consumer protections by requiring price transparency and 'hold harmless' provisions against unexpected medical charges.

The opposite

  • Scored -2

    Would business owners be better off under this?

    Healthcare providers and insurers may face increased compliance costs and higher potential penalties.