USofCare Applauds Enactment of Key Hospital Price Transparency Measure

This new provision is a critical first step in addressing the high cost and burden posed by hospital facility fees

Washington, DC — Earlier today, President Trump signed the FY26 appropriations bill passed by Congress. Included in this bill is a key provision that will require hospitals to obtain and bill under a unique National Provider Identifier (NPI) for each off-campus outpatient department in order to receive Medicare payments – long advocated for by United States of Care. In response, United States of Care issued the following statement: 

“We know that people overwhelmingly want transparency into how hospitals are charging for health care services,” said United States of Care Senior Director of Federal Policy & Advocacy Lisa Hunter. “That’s why this NPI provision is an important step in meeting people’s demand for a transparent, accountable, and fair hospital experience.” 

“By requiring hospitals to get a unique identifier for facilities off-site from a hospital campus instead of allowing them to bill Medicare under a hospital’s identifier, we’ll be able to more clearly see which services are being performed in outpatient departments and where people are being charged facility fees. That means we can more accurately collect data.”

“This is a critical starting point in understanding hospital costs for people and making hospital care more affordable. I applaud leaders in both parties and the President for enacting this people-centered policy change, and encourage Congress to build upon this success with further hospital pricing fairness policies.”

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