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S 897

An Act relative to hospital price transparency

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jamie Eldridge and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts hospitals must publicly disclose their standard charges for all procedures and services to enable patient price comparison and increase healthcare market transparency.

Hearing scheduled for 06/02/2025 from 11:00 AM-03:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium
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Bill Summary · S 897

Legislative bill overview

S. 897 requires Massachusetts hospitals to publicly disclose their standard charges for procedures and services, making pricing information transparent and accessible to patients before they receive care. The bill aims to give consumers the ability to comparison shop for hospital services and understand costs upfront, similar to price transparency requirements in other states and federal regulations.

Why is this important

Hospital pricing in Massachusetts is notoriously opaque, with significant variation in costs for identical procedures across different facilities. Price transparency can reduce unnecessary spending, empower patients to make informed decisions, and potentially increase competition among providers to offer more competitive rates—though effects depend heavily on implementation details and whether patients can realistically change providers.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation burden: Hospitals claim compliance costs are substantial and may be passed to consumers; supporters counter that standardized federal requirements already exist
  • Competitive concerns: Some hospitals argue public pricing enables unfair competitive advantages for larger systems and may discourage service expansion in less profitable areas
  • Incomplete picture: Published charges don't reflect negotiated insurance rates or what patients actually pay out-of-pocket, potentially creating consumer confusion rather than clarity
  • Scope questions: Unclear whether bill covers emergency services, what frequency updates are required, or how digital accessibility will be enforced

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

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