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HB 2246

Enacting the consumer protection related to hospital price transparency act.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Requires Kansas hospitals to publish top 300 priced procedures and provide patient payment estimates on request, with AG enforcement and no private suit.

Died in Senate Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 2246

Summary — HB 2246: Consumer Protection Related to Hospital Price Transparency Act

  • Bill number: HB 2246
  • Title: Enacting the Consumer Protection Related to Hospital Price Transparency Act
  • Introduced: January 29, 2025
  • Current status (document record): Amended by House Committee on Insurance; referred for further committee consideration (listed as Referred to Committee on Public Health and Welfare)
  • Effective: upon publication in the Kansas Register (per committee report)

Purpose / Intent

HB 2246 seeks to strengthen consumer access to hospital price information in Kansas by requiring licensed hospitals to publish and make available certain pricing data and patient payment estimates, and by giving the Attorney General enforcement authority (including referral to federal enforcement when federal rules are violated). The bill implements and builds on federal hospital price transparency requirements (45 C.F.R. § 180).

Key provisions

  • Definitions: “Hospital” means hospitals licensed under Kansas law (general and special hospitals as defined in K.S.A. 65-450 and related statutes).
  • Public price listings: Each Kansas‑licensed hospital must publish on a public-facing website a consumer-friendly list of the hospital’s top 300 procedures with corresponding pricing information and plain‑language descriptions.
  • Patient payment estimates: Upon request (by the patient or the patient’s legally authorized representative) made at least 3 days before a scheduled elective procedure, test, or service, the hospital must provide an estimate of the amount the patient will be responsible to pay.
  • Notice to patients: Hospitals must post conspicuous written information (including in registration/admission areas and on hospital websites) informing patients of their right to request a payment estimate.
  • Enforcement: The Kansas Attorney General (AG) is authorized to enforce the Act. The AG must send each Kansas hospital a notice about the Act and its effective date prior to July 1, 2025. If the AG finds a hospital noncompliant with 45 C.F.R. § 180 (as of July 1, 2025), the AG shall refer information about the noncompliance to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for federal enforcement.
  • Civil cause of action: The House Committee amended the bill to remove the private civil‑action enforcement mechanism that was in the introduced version (i.e., the amended version no longer creates a private civil cause of action against hospitals).

Who is affected

  • Hospitals licensed in Kansas (both general and special hospitals) — required to publish pricing and provide estimates and notices.
  • Patients scheduled for elective procedures (and their authorized representatives) — gain a statutory right to receive payment estimates.
  • Kansas Attorney General’s Office — new enforcement responsibilities and outreach.
  • Potential fiscal/administrative impacts on counties that operate hospitals; the League of Kansas Municipalities indicated no fiscal effect for cities.

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Division of the Budget (fiscal note prepared for the introduced version) reports the Office of the Attorney General would need:
    • FY2025: $15,939 (one legal assistant to prepare notices before July 1, 2025)
    • FY2026: $235,728 (1.0 Assistant Attorney General + 1.0 Legal Assistant + operating)
    • FY2027: $247,514 (continued positions and increased benefits/operating)
    • FTEs: 1.0 in FY2025; 2.0 in FY2026 and FY2027
  • The Office of Judicial Administration previously noted the original bill (when it contained a private civil remedy) could increase district court caseloads but could not quantify costs or revenues. That private‑action provision has been removed by committee amendment, which may reduce judicial impacts.

Legislative history & stakeholder input

  • Sponsor/request: House Committee on Insurance at request of Rep. William Sutton (committee hearing Feb. 10, 2025).
  • Supporters: Testimony emphasized some hospitals were not complying with federal rules and patients need access to pricing.
  • Opponents (Kansas Hospital Association, several hospital systems): testified price disclosure is complex, hospitals must already comply with federal rules, and additional state requirements could increase administrative/financial burdens.
  • Companion bill: SB 1717.

Next steps / procedural notes

  • Bill was amended in the House Committee on Insurance to remove the private civil‑action remedy and reported as amended. It remains in committee process per the legislative record and would take effect upon publication in the Kansas Register if enacted.

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

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