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HB 7937

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PREVENTING UNWARRANTED FACILITY FEES

2026 Regular Session Introduced by David Bennett and 9 co-sponsors

HB 7937 restricts surprise healthcare facility fees to increase price transparency and prevent patients from facing unexplained charges beyond actual medical costs.

04/03/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/09/2026)
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Bill Summary · HB 7937

Legislative bill overview

HB 7937 aims to regulate and restrict healthcare facility fees that patients encounter at hospitals and medical centers beyond the actual cost of care. The bill appears designed to increase price transparency and prevent surprise charges by limiting what facilities can charge patients separately from provider fees. This addresses a growing consumer complaint about unexplained "facility fees" that significantly increase medical bills.

Why is this important

Healthcare facility fees have become a major source of hidden costs in medical bills, sometimes adding hundreds or thousands of dollars to patient expenses without clear justification. Patients often cannot anticipate these charges beforehand, making it difficult to understand true out-of-pocket costs. Regulating these fees could improve healthcare affordability and financial predictability for Rhode Island residents.

Potential points of contention

  • Healthcare provider opposition: Hospitals and facilities may argue that facility fees are necessary to cover overhead costs (staff, equipment, building maintenance) and that restrictions could strain their budgets or limit service availability
  • Definition and scope: Determining what constitutes an "unwarranted" fee versus legitimate facility costs will likely be contentious—facilities argue many charges are justified, while consumer advocates may view most separate fees as exploitative
  • Implementation challenges: Enforcement mechanisms and how the state will monitor compliance, combined with potential litigation over fee classifications, could complicate the bill's execution and create administrative burden

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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