Prices on the Wall Act of 2026
Jun 23, 2026
Introduced: Jun 23, 2026
Jun 23, 2026
Introduced: Jun 23, 2026
Summary
Makes hospitals, surgical centers, labs, and imaging providers post their cash prices on the wall for common services so patients can see them.
What problem does this solve?
Patients often do not know the cost of medical care before they receive it, which can lead to surprise bills. This bill requires certain healthcare facilities to display the cash prices for common services on their walls, helping people understand costs upfront.
What does this bill do?
Requires hospitals to post prices
Makes hospitals post the discounted cash price for common, schedulable services. If a cash price is not available, they must post the average price charged to self-pay patients over the last three years.
Requires surgical centers to post prices
Makes ambulatory surgical centers post the discounted cash price for their common, schedulable services. If a cash price is not available, they must post the average price from the last three years.
Requires laboratories to post prices
Makes laboratories post the discounted cash price for certain diagnostic lab tests. If no cash price exists, they must post the gross charge for the test.
Requires imaging providers to post prices
Makes providers of imaging services post the discounted cash price for their services. If no cash price exists, they must post the gross charge.
Defines 'shoppable service'
Clarifies that a 'shoppable service' is a non-emergency service that a patient can schedule in advance. This includes all related items and services that are usually provided with it.
Who does this affect?
- Patients and Healthcare Consumers
- Hospitals
- Medical Service Providers (Surgical Centers, Labs, Imaging)
What is the real world impact?
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Increases price transparency for patients
Aims to help patients understand the cost of medical services before receiving them. By making prices public, it could encourage people to compare costs and choose more affordable options for care that can be scheduled in advance.
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May not reflect insured patients' costs
Focuses on the 'discounted cash price,' which is what someone without insurance might pay. This price may not be relevant for patients with insurance, whose final cost depends on their plan's negotiated rates, deductible, and other factors.
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Physical posting may be impractical
Requires prices to be posted on a physical wall. Critics might argue that a searchable online database would be a more modern and effective way for consumers to compare prices between different healthcare providers.
When does this start?
If passed, the price posting requirements would take effect on January 1, 2028.