Transparency in Billing Act of 2026

This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to change how hospitals bill employer group health plans for care given at hospital outpatient departments located off the main hospital campus. A hospital could not bill a group health plan or insurer, or charge the patient, for that care unless it gets a separate unique health identifier for the off-campus department and includes it on the claim. Group health plans and insurers could not pay such claims without that identifier, starting with plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027. The Secretary of Labor would set up a way to report suspected violations within one year and could fine hospitals up to $300 per day (30 beds or fewer) or up to $5,500 per day (more than 30 beds).

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Virginia Foxx Republican sponsor
• 1 cosponsors