President Signs Federal Executive Order Reinforcing Healthcare Cost Transparency

President Donald Trump this week signed an executive order that aims to reinforce rules to make healthcare prices more transparent for patients.  An accompanying fact sheet explains the Trump administration is directing three federal agencies to enforce the transparency regulations the president rolled out during his first term in 2019.  Connecticut hospitals and health systems have long supported and implemented measures to provide patients with the information they need to make decisions about their care, and they work directly with patients to avoid unanticipated patient costs.

Connecticut hospitals have some of the most expansive financial assistance programs and protections against medical debt in the nation — including transparency initiatives focused on educating patients on costs and financial assistance policies, ensuring assistance is applied to all those who are eligible, and connecting eligible, uninsured patients with a regular source of health insurance coverage.  Through these ongoing and growing initiatives, Connecticut hospitals continue to demonstrate their commitment to reducing costs and offering clear and meaningful pricing information, not only meeting but exceeding federal pricing transparency requirements.

Most recently, Connecticut hospitals have been working with the Lamont administration and Undue Medical Debt to identify and erase medical debt for thousands of Connecticut residents.  This legislative session, hospitals also testified in support of SB 1192, An Act Concerning Hospital Financial Assistance, which has advanced out of the Public Health Committee to the Senate.  If enacted, the legislation will provide for one location where patients can find information on individual hospital financial assistance policies; helpful tools and assistance from the Office of the Healthcare Advocate (OHA); and potentially additional information on the partnership between the Lamont administration, Undue Medical Debt, and hospitals to eliminate medical debt.

The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) continues to monitor federal executive orders and agency directives impacting healthcare, hospitals and health systems, and patients, including by staying in close contact with Connecticut’s congressional delegation and state officials.

Click here for more information on how Connecticut hospitals support healthcare affordability and price transparency.