Press Releases

WASHINGTON—Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) issued the following statement after President Donald Trump announced two rules to improve transparency in costs for health care:

“The rules announced today by President Trump provide needed transparency in health care costs, empowering patients and allowing families to plan for the future,” said Rep. Estes. “By requiring hospitals to publish their charges and insurers to disclose their rates upfront, patients can have the tools they need to make decisions about their health care and find the best option for them, before getting blindsided at the checkout counter after receiving care. I applaud this important step toward making our health care system more transparent and look forward to ensuring implementation of the finalized rule supports patients and hospitals, especially in rural areas.”

The Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) & Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Price Transparency Requirements for Hospitals to Make Standard Charges Public Rule will require hospitals to publish online their gross charges, payer-specific negotiated charges, the amount of cash payment discount that a hospital is willing to accept, and their maximum and minimum negotiated rates. Additionally, hospitals will be expected to display online in plain consumer-friendly language the negotiated charges for 300 common shoppable services annually.

The Transparency in Coverage Rule would require health insurance plans to provide consumers with real-time, personalized access to cost-sharing information, including their cost-share for all covered health care items and services, allowing consumers to compare costs between specific providers before receiving care.

Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas’ 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.