Overview
The Healthcare Transparency and Patient Protection Act represents a comprehensive effort to increase price transparency in the healthcare system and protect patients from unexpected medical bills. This legislation requires healthcare providers and insurers to provide clear, upfront pricing information to patients before services are rendered.
Key provisions include:
- Mandatory disclosure of estimated costs for both emergency and non-emergency services
- Creation of a federal database of healthcare costs accessible to consumers
- Prohibition of surprise billing practices for out-of-network providers
- Establishment of penalties for non-compliance ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per violation
The Act also establishes an independent dispute resolution process for billing disputes between providers and insurers, protecting patients from being caught in the middle of payment disagreements.