The Hospital Price Transparency Act mandates that hospitals provide clear and accessible pricing information for services and items offered. Each hospital is required to publish a digital file in a machine-readable format on their publicly accessible website, detailing the gross charge, de-identified minimum and maximum negotiated charges, discounted cash prices, and payor-specific negotiated charges for all items and services. Additionally, hospitals must create a consumer-friendly list of at least 300 shoppable services, including specific pricing information and billing codes. The Health Care Authority is tasked with implementing and overseeing compliance with this act, including developing a standardized template for hospitals to use and ensuring that the information is updated annually.
The act also establishes enforcement mechanisms, including penalties for non-compliance, which can escalate with repeated violations. Hospitals found in violation cannot pursue collection actions against patients for debts incurred during the violation period. Patients have the right to initiate civil actions if they believe a hospital has violated the act, and if the court finds in their favor, the hospital must refund overcharges and cover legal fees. Furthermore, hospitals must provide patients with itemized statements of their medical debts and relevant contact information before initiating any collection actions. The authority is empowered to create rules necessary for the act's implementation and administration.