In a far-reaching executive order, President Trump directed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to spearhead a multiagency effort to assist patients in making informed decisions when addressing their health care needs.
The initiative calls for the drafting of a rule requiring hospitals, clinics, doctors, and insurance companies to disclose hitherto closely guarded pricing information and to inform patients of out-of-pocket expenses in advance.
“Opaque pricing structures may benefit powerful special groups, such as large hospital systems and insurance companies, but they generally leave patients and taxpayers worse off than would a more transparent system,” Trump said in the June 24 order.
In addition to HHS, the White House plan will involve the departments of Treasury, Labor, Defense, and Veterans’ Affairs in a series of rulemakings over the next two to six months.
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