Patient advocates laud Trump’s new healthcare accountability, transparency rule

The final rule’s “added requirement of executive attestation that published prices and other information are true, accurate, and complete as of the date in the machine-readable file is a breakthrough for compliance,” Fisher said.

“Real price transparency means patients can shop for better care at lower prices and employers can demand a better deal,” Fisher said.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Trump’s final rule on Monday, explaining that a more transparent healthcare marketplace will be accomplished by the final rule via “reducing duplicative and unnecessary information,” “providing more context about in-network prices,” “increasing available out-of-network pricing information,” and “strengthening accountability for the completeness and accuracy of published data.” 

Additionally, the rule will require “group health plans and health insurance issuers to provide consumers with personalized cost-sharing information by phone, in addition to existing online tools.”

When reached for comment, the HHS referred The Center Square to its press release.

Former director of the Domestic Policy Council Andrew Bremberg told The Center Square how “requiring insurance executives to attest that their machine-readable files are true, accurate, and complete will unleash actual transparency and accountability.”

Transparency and accountability are “essential to transform the [healthcare] system.”

“These commonsense reforms are a testament to President Trump's commitment to 'maximum transparency' and shifting the power from the big business of healthcare to the American people,” Bremberg said.

CEO of State Financial Officers Foundation OJ Oleka also applauded Trump’s final rule, stating that the move toward “real dollar prices, standardized reporting, and greater accountability is meaningful progress for employers, patients, and taxpayers trying to understand what healthcare actually costs.” 

"Accountability and transparency go hand in hand, but transparency only works if the data is actually usable,” Oleka said.

GOP campaign strategist David Kochel pointed out the political wisdom of the final rule, explaining that “the Trump Administration is taking action on healthcare price transparency ahead of the midterm elections, showing Republicans are willing to lean forward on an issue that hits Americans’ wallets every day.”

“Real prices give patients the freedom to choose lower-cost, high-quality care and give employers the power to audit spending, negotiate better deals, and hold insurers accountable,” Kochel said. “The administration's work on price transparency puts power in the hands of patients and employers to stop overcharges, demand a better deal, and keep more of their hard-earned money."

Executive director of Save Our States Trent England noted that "healthcare price transparency is one of the most obvious policies in American politics.”

“That it has taken this long to guarantee patients and employers actual prices is absurd,” England said.

“Fortunately, President Trump is standing strong for common-sense and putting the American people ahead of hospital and insurance executives and other insiders,” England said. 

“With real price transparency, patients can plan ahead, find the best care at the best price, fight overcharging, and avoid price gouging and surprise bills,” England said. “Employers can finally see the receipts and use real pricing data to negotiate better deals, lowering healthcare costs for employees and freeing up resources for higher wages, more jobs, and better returns for investors, including pensioners and retirees.”

“All this is long overdue,” England said.