Transparency in Billing Act of 2023

The Transparency in Billing Act of 2023 (H.R. 4509) aims to ensure that hospitals provide accurate location information when billing for medical services. Specifically, the bill would require off-campus outpatient departments to use a unique health identifier on all claims submitted to group health plans.

For everyday citizens, this means that health insurance companies would only be allowed to pay claims that clearly identify exactly where a service was performed. This is intended to prevent "dishonest billing," where hospitals might charge higher hospital-based rates for services actually provided at smaller, off-site clinics. By requiring this level of detail, the bill seeks to protect patients and employers from overpaying for outpatient care and to increase overall price transparency in the healthcare system.