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Committee hears bill requiring hospitals to submit federal price-transparency data to state Department of Health
Summary
A substitute bill would require hospitals to comply with federal price-transparency rules as of Jan. 1, 2025, and to submit their standard-charge lists annually to the state Department of Health beginning July 1, 2027; proponents included the bill sponsor and the Washington State Hospital Association.
The Senate Health Care & Wellness Committee heard March 25 on substitute Senate Bill 5,493, which would require hospitals to comply with federal hospital price-transparency rules as they existed on Jan. 1, 2025, and to submit specified charge data annually to the Washington State Department of Health beginning July 1, 2027.
Emily Poole, committee staff, said federal rules (effective in 2021) require hospitals to publish a list of standard charges for all items and services, including gross charge, payer-specific negotiated charge, and minimum and maximum negotiated charges. Substitute Senate Bill 5,493 would require hospitals to comply with the federal rules as they existed on Jan. 1, 2025, by July 1, 2027, and to submit the most recent lists of standard charges and consumer-friendly shoppable-service lists to the Department of Health at least once a year.
Senator Marcus Richelle, the bill’s prime sponsor, said transparency in hospital pricing helps consumers make informed decisions, identifies outliers and can work in tandem with other efforts such as an all-payers claims database. Lisa Thatcher, representing the Washington State Hospital Association, testified in support and commended the sponsor and hospitals for reaching agreement on the bill’s language.
The hearing record shows staff briefing and supporting testimony from the sponsor and the hospital association. No opposition testimony was recorded at the hearing; the committee closed public testimony and later moved on to executive-session business that included other bills.
