Plans And Issuers

Plans and Issuers

Plans and Issuers

Empowering consumers with the necessary information to make informed health care decisions.

Key Provisions

Key Provisions
January 1 2024

Making pricing information available to the public

In three stages, most group health plans and issuers of group or individual health insurance are required to disclose pricing information.

hospital price transparency number one icon

Machine-Readable Files containing the following sets of costs for items and services

  1. In-Network Rate File: rates for all covered items and services between the plan or issuer and in-network providers.
  2. Allowed Amount File: allowed amounts for, and billed charges from, out-of-network providers.

 

 

hospital price transparency number two icon

Internet-based price comparison tool (also available by phone, or in paper form, upon request) allowing an individual to receive an estimate of their cost-sharing responsibility for a specific item or service from a specific provider or providers, for 500 items and services.

 

By plan or policy years beginning on or after January 1, 2023, most group health plans and issuers of group or individual health insurance coverage are required to disclose personalized pricing information for 500 covered items and service to their participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees through an online consumer tool, by phone, or in paper form, upon request. Cost estimates must be provided in real-time based on cost-sharing information that is accurate at the time of the request.

 
Number 3

Internet-based price comparison tool (or disclosure on paper, upon request) allowing an individual to receive an estimate of their cost-sharing responsibility for a specific item or service from a specific provider or providers, for all items and services.

 

Enforcement

Beginning July 1, 2022, CMS will enforce applicable price transparency requirements. For plans and issuers that are subject to CMS's enforcement authority and do not comply, we may take several enforcement actions, including: requiring corrective actions and/or imposing a civil money penalty up to $100 per day, adjusted annually under 45 CFR part 102, for each violation and for each individual affected by the violation.

For additional details on enforcement refer to 45 CFR part 150, subpart B and C and for information on appealing a proposed civil money penalty refer to 45 CFR part 150, subpart D.

hospital price transparency law icon
hospital price transparency icon

Need more information?

Find FAQs, guides, checklists, and more in our Resources.

Page Last Modified:
02/15/2024 06:13 PM