Committee Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Transparency in Health Care Billing

Committee Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Transparency in Health Care Billing

WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and Workforce advanced the bipartisan Transparency in Billing Act of 2026 (H.R. 8684), to prevent hospitals from sending opaque and confusing bills. The legislation was introduced by Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC-05).

A key factor in the high cost of health care is that consumers and payers often lack complete information about the care they are paying for. The Transparency in Billing Act of 2026amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to require hospitals to include a unique national provider identifier when submitting a claim for hospital outpatient department services so payers can determine the setting in which the care was delivered. This will improve transparency and lower health care costs.

"We are seeing a growing trend of hospitals acquiring independent physician offices and then charging patients higher prices even if the care they receive is essentially identical to what they received before the hospitals acquired the office. The Transparency in Billing Act prohibits hospitals from billing consumers or private health plans unless they provide sufficient information to allow payers to determine the site at which the care is provided. The American people deserve to know the full picture of the prices they are asked to pay. This bill will help ensure that health care costs are driven by those who provide the highest-quality services-not by those with the most market power," said Ranking Member Scott.

"Patients should always have the information they need to make informed health care decisions - this includes understanding the true costs associated with care. Far too often, many are hit with hidden upcharges and extraneous fees without even knowing it - this is an issue that should be rectified immediately," said Representative Foxx. "I'm proud to put forward this bipartisan solution with Representative Scott to increase transparency and provide a positive course correction that puts patients first."

To read the bill text for the Transparency in Billing Act of 2026, click here.

To read Ranking Member Scott's remarks at the markup, click here.

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