AMAC Supports the Health Care PRICE Transparency Act 2.0

This bill requires hospitals to publish a monthly list of all standard charges for shoppable medical services which would both empower patients and foster competition leading to lower healthcare costs.

January 25, 2024

The Honorable Mike Braun
Senator from Indiana
404 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Braun,

On behalf of the over 2.1 million members of AMAC – Association of Mature American Citizens, including over 54,000 members residing in Indiana, I write to offer our support for S. 3548, the “Health Care PRICE Transparency Act 2.0.”

It is well within good American conservative political philosophy to encourage competition, free enterprise, and capitalism, as well as consumer choice. Ultimately, the aim of this legislation is to reduce patient costs by encouraging competition, and to protect patients from coercion and extortion due to vague, undefinable, and/or inconsistent pricing schemes.

This proposed law requires hospitals to publish a monthly list of all standard charges for items and services furnished by the hospital, starting with at least 300 shoppable services, or all of such if there are fewer than 300, all by December 31st of 2024; and all shoppable services after that date if there are more than 300. The plain language description must include standard identification codes for the item or service, the gross charge for the same, and discount for cash transactions, any payer specific negotiated charges with the applicable associated maximum and minimum charges, and other items determined appropriate to include by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Hospital price lists will be audited annually with penalties assessed for non-compliance with the law which are scaled by the size of the hospital. The intent of this legislation is also applied to diagnostic laboratory testing under Medicare, imaging services, and ambulatory surgery providers.

AMAC thanks you, Senator Braun, and your cosponsors for your efforts to ensure Health Care Prices [are] Revealed and Information to Consumers [are] Explained. AMAC is pleased to offer our organization’s full support for S. 3548.

Sincerely,

Bob Carlstrom
President
AMAC Action