CMS requires hospitals to post prices online

Editor's Note

Part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) final Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System rule for FY 2019, issued August 2, was a requirement that hospitals post the prices they charge for surgeries and other medical procedures online.

The list of standard charges is part of the administration’s efforts to reduce health care costs by improving price transparency and public accessibility.

Under the rule, which is effective January 1, 2019, hospitals must update the information annually. Previously, CMS required hospitals to make the information available to anyone who asked for it.