HB 2241 — An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, providing for hospital price transparency and for medical office price transparency.

PRINTER'S NO.   2942

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2241
                                                Session of
                                                  2026

     INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, WAXMAN, PROBST, HARKINS, SHUSTERMAN,
        HOWARD, KINKEAD, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, INGLIS,
        RIVERA, BOYD, MAYES, MADDEN, HADDOCK, CONKLIN, CURRY AND
        CIRESI, FEBRUARY 24, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER PROTECTION, TECHNOLOGY AND
        UTILITIES, FEBRUARY 25, 2026


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), entitled "An
 2      act relating to health care; prescribing the powers and
 3      duties of the Department of Health; establishing and
 4      providing the powers and duties of the State Health
 5      Coordinating Council, health systems agencies and Health Care
 6      Policy Board in the Department of Health, and State Health
 7      Facility Hearing Board in the Department of Justice;
 8      providing for certification of need of health care providers
 9      and prescribing penalties," providing for hospital price
10      transparency and for medical office price transparency.
11      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
12   hereby enacts as follows:
13      Section 1.    The act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known
14   as the Health Care Facilities Act, is amended by adding chapters
15   to read:
16                                CHAPTER 8-D
17                        HOSPITAL PRICE TRANSPARENCY
18   Section 801-D.    Definitions.
19      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
20   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 1   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 2      "Ancillary service."     A hospital item or service that a
 3   hospital customarily provides as part of a shoppable service.
 4      "Chargemaster."     The list of all hospital items or services
 5   maintained by a hospital for which the hospital has established
 6   a charge.
 7      "CMS."    The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
 8      "De-identified maximum negotiated charge."     The highest
 9   charge that a hospital has negotiated with all third-party
10   payors for a hospital item or service.
11      "De-identified minimum negotiated charge."     The lowest charge
12   that a hospital has negotiated with all third-party payors for a
13   hospital item or service.
14      "Discounted cash price."     The charge that applies to an
15   individual who pays cash or a cash equivalent for a hospital
16   item or service.
17      "Facility fee."     A fee charged or billed by a health system
18   or hospital for an outpatient service provided in an off-site
19   health care facility, regardless of the modality through which
20   the service is provided, that is:
21          (1)    Intended to compensate the health system or hospital
22      for health care expenses.
23          (2)    Separate and distinct from a professional fee.
24      "Gross charge."     The charge for an item or service that is
25   reflected on the hospital's chargemaster, absent any discount.
26      "Health care facility."     As defined in section 802.1.
27      "Health system."    As defined in section 809.2(e).
28      "Hospital."     As defined in section 802.1.
29      "Item or service."    An item or service, including an
30   individual item or service package, that can be provided by a

20260HB2241PN2942                    - 2 -
 1   hospital to a patient in connection with an inpatient admission
 2   or an outpatient department visit for which the hospital has
 3   established a standard charge, including any of the following:
 4          (1)   A supply or procedure.
 5          (2)   Room and board.
 6          (3)   A facility fee.
 7          (4)   A professional fee.
 8          (5)   Any other item or service for which the hospital has
 9      established a standard charge.
10      "Payor-specific negotiated charge."     The charge that a
11   hospital has negotiated with a third-party payor for a hospital
12   item or service.
13      "Professional fee."    A fee charged by a health care
14   practitioner for medical services.
15      "Readable format."     A digital representation of information
16   in a file that can be easily accessed and comprehended by an
17   individual with reasonable computer skills and imported or read
18   into a computer system for further processing without any
19   additional preparation.
20      "Shoppable service."     A service that may be scheduled by an
21   individual in advance.
22      "Standard charge."     The regular rate established by a
23   hospital for a hospital item or service provided to a specific
24   group of paying patients reported in United States dollar
25   amount. The term includes any of the following:
26          (1)   The gross charge.
27          (2)   The payor-specific negotiated charge.
28          (3)   The de-identified minimum negotiated charge.
29          (4)   The de-identified maximum negotiated charge.
30          (5)   The discounted cash price.

20260HB2241PN2942                     - 3 -
 1      "Third-party payor."     An entity that is legally responsible
 2   for payment of a claim for a hospital item or service.
 3   Section 802-D.    Accessibility.
 4      A hospital shall publish all of the following on its publicly
 5   accessible Internet website and provide hard copies upon
 6   request:
 7            (1)   A digital file in a readable format and printable
 8      format that contains a list of all standard charges for all
 9      hospital items or services as specified under section 803-D.
10            (2)   A consumer-friendly and printable list of standard
11      charges for a limited set of shoppable services as provided
12      for under section 804-D.
13   Section 803-D.    List of standard charges.
14      (a)     List.--A hospital shall:
15            (1)   Maintain a list of all standard charges for all
16      hospital items or services in accordance with this chapter.
17            (2)   Ensure that the list is available to the public in
18      accordance with section 802-D.
19      (b)     Standard charges.--The standard charges contained in the
20   list under subsection (a) shall reflect the standard charges
21   applicable to the location of the hospital, regardless of
22   whether the hospital operates in more than one location or
23   operates under the same license as another hospital.
24      (c)     Contents.--A hospital shall include all of the following
25   information in the list under subsection (a):
26            (1)   A description of each hospital item or service
27      provided by the hospital.
28            (2)   The following charges for each individual hospital
29      item or service when provided in either an inpatient setting
30      or an outpatient setting, as applicable, including:

20260HB2241PN2942                    - 4 -
 1                  (i)    The gross charge.
 2                  (ii)    The de-identified minimum negotiated charge.
 3                  (iii)    The de-identified maximum negotiated charge.
 4                  (iv)    The discounted cash price.
 5                  (v)    The payor-specific negotiated charge, delineated
 6            by the name of the third-party payor and plan associated
 7            with the charge and displayed in a manner that clearly
 8            associates the charge with the third-party payor and
 9            plan.
10                  (vi)    A code used by the hospital for the purpose of
11            accounting or billing for the hospital item or service,
12            including the Current Procedural Terminology code, the
13            Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System code, the
14            Diagnosis Related Group code, the National Drug Code or
15            other common identifier.
16      (d)   Format.--A hospital shall publish the information
17   contained in the list under subsection (a) in a single digital
18   file that is in a readable format.
19      (e)   Display.--
20            (1)   A hospital shall post the list under subsection (a)
21      in a prominent location on the home page of the hospital's
22      publicly accessible Internet website or make the list
23      accessible by a dedicated link that is prominently displayed
24      on the home page of the hospital's publicly accessible
25      Internet website.
26            (2)   If the hospital operates multiple locations and
27      maintains a single Internet website, the hospital shall post
28      the list for each location that the hospital operates in a
29      manner that clearly associates the list with the applicable
30      location of the hospital and includes charges specific to

20260HB2241PN2942                       - 5 -
 1      each individual hospital location.
 2   Section 804-D.    List of shoppable services.
 3      (a)   Duty to maintain.--Except as provided under subsection
 4   (c), a hospital shall maintain and make publicly available a
 5   list of the standard charges for each of at least 300 shoppable
 6   services provided by the hospital with charges specific to that
 7   individual hospital location. The hospital may select the
 8   shoppable services to be included in the list, except that the
 9   list shall include at least the 70 services specified as
10   shoppable services by CMS. If the hospital does not provide all
11   the shoppable services specified by CMS, the hospital shall
12   include all the shoppable services provided by the hospital.
13      (b)   Selection.--In selecting a shoppable service for the
14   purpose of inclusion in the list under subsection (a), a
15   hospital shall:
16            (1)   Consider how frequently the service is provided and
17      the billing rate for the service.
18            (2)   Prioritize the selection of services that are among
19      the most frequently provided by the hospital.
20      (c)   Exception.--If a hospital does not provide 300 shoppable
21   services in the list under subsection (a), the hospital shall
22   include the services specified as shoppable services by CMS. If
23   the hospital does not provide all shoppable services specified
24   by CMS, the hospital shall include all the shoppable services
25   provided by the hospital.
26      (d)   Contents.--A hospital shall include all of the following
27   information in the list under subsection (a):
28            (1)   A plain-language description of each shoppable
29      service included on the list.
30            (2)   The payor-specific negotiated charge that applies to

20260HB2241PN2942                    - 6 -
 1    each shoppable service included on the list and any ancillary
 2    service, delineated by the name of the third-party payor and
 3    plan associated with the charge and displayed in a manner
 4    that clearly associates the charge with the third-party payor
 5    and plan.
 6        (3)     The discounted cash price that applies to each
 7    shoppable service included on the list and any ancillary
 8    service or, if the hospital does not offer a discounted cash
 9    price for a shoppable service or an ancillary service on the
10    list, the gross charge for the shoppable service or ancillary
11    service, as applicable.
12        (4)     The de-identified minimum negotiated charge that
13    applies to each shoppable service included on the list and
14    any ancillary service.
15        (5)     The de-identified maximum negotiated charge that
16    applies to each shoppable service included on the list and
17    any ancillary service.
18        (6)     A code used by the hospital for purposes of
19    accounting or billing for each shoppable service included on
20    the list and any ancillary service, including the Current
21    Procedural Terminology code, the Healthcare Common Procedure
22    Coding System code, the Diagnosis Related Group code, the
23    National Drug Code or other common identifier.
24        (7)     If applicable, each location where the hospital
25    provides a shoppable service and whether the standard charges
26    included in the list apply at the location to the provision
27    of the shoppable service in an inpatient setting or an
28    outpatient setting.
29        (8)     If applicable, an indication that a shoppable
30    service specified by CMS is not provided by the hospital.

20260HB2241PN2942                  - 7 -
 1   Section 805-D.    Hospital price transparency availability.
 2      (a)   Accessibility.--A hospital shall ensure that a list
 3   under sections 803-D and 804-D comply with the following
 4   requirements:
 5            (1)   Is available free of charge.
 6            (2)   Is accessible to a common commercial operator of an
 7      Internet search engine to the extent necessary for the search
 8      engine to index the list and display the list in response to
 9      a search query of a user of the search engine.
10            (3)   Is formatted in a manner specified under this
11      chapter and by the department. The department shall transmit
12      a notice of the format to the Legislative Reference Bureau
13      for publication in the next available issue of the
14      Pennsylvania Bulletin.
15            (4)   Is digitally searchable and printable by service
16      description, billing code and third-party payor.
17            (5)   Uses a format and a naming convention specified by
18      the department. The department shall transmit a notice of the
19      format and convention to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
20      publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania
21      Bulletin. The department shall consider a naming convention
22      as may be specified by CMS.
23      (b)   Compliance.--The department shall ensure that a list
24   under sections 803-D and 804-D does not require any of the
25   following:
26            (1)   The establishment of a user account or password or
27      other information of the user.
28            (2)   The submission of personal identifying information.
29            (3)   Any other impediment, including entering a code to
30      access the list.

20260HB2241PN2942                    - 8 -
 1      (c)   Template.--In determining the format of a list under
 2   sections 803-D and 804-D, the department shall develop a
 3   template that a hospital shall use in formatting the list. The
 4   department shall transmit the template in a notice to the
 5   Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next
 6   available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. In developing the
 7   template as required under this subsection, the department shall
 8   have the following duties:
 9            (1)   Take into consideration applicable Federal
10      guidelines for formatting similar lists required by Federal
11      law and ensure that the design of the template enables an
12      individual to compare the charges contained in the lists
13      maintained by each hospital.
14            (2)   Design the template to be substantially like the
15      template used by CMS for the purposes specified in this
16      chapter.
17      (d)   Frequency.--A hospital shall update the standard charge
18   information described in sections 803-D and 804-D at least once
19   annually and shall clearly indicate the date that the
20   information was most recently updated, either on the list or in
21   a manner that is clearly associated with the list. The hospital
22   shall make available no less than the three most recent versions
23   of the list as required under this chapter.
24      (e)   Readable format.--For purposes of this chapter, the
25   following shall apply to a hospital providing digital files in a
26   readable format:
27            (1)   The hospital shall format the file without
28      additional rows or spacing between data.
29            (2)   The file shall be readily usable without any
30      additional instructions.

20260HB2241PN2942                    - 9 -
 1            (3)   The file shall be in a readable format that is
 2      widely used by other hospitals for cross-comparison purposes.
 3      (f)   Construction.--Nothing in this section shall preclude a
 4   hospital from using a price estimator tool as provided for in 45
 5   CFR 180.60 (relating to requirements for displaying shoppable
 6   services in a consumer-friendly manner) in addition to the list
 7   of shoppable services.
 8   Section 806-D.    Reporting requirements.
 9      (a)   Frequency.--Each time a hospital creates or updates a
10   list as required under section 803-D or 804-D, the hospital
11   shall submit the list, along with a report on the list, to the
12   department. The department shall determine the form of the
13   report and shall transmit the form of the report in a notice to
14   the Legislation Reference Bureau for publication in the next
15   available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
16      (b)   Complete data.--To be in compliance, any list received
17   by the department shall include a minimum of 95% of all values
18   required under section 803-D or 804-D and shall indicate where
19   values are not applicable according to the determined form and
20   format of the department.
21      (c)   Attestation.--An authorized executive of a hospital or
22   health system shall attest, subject to 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904
23   (relating to unsworn falsification to authorities), that any
24   report or list submitted to the department under this chapter is
25   complete and accurate to the best of the authorized executive's
26   knowledge and belief.
27      (d)   Public availability.--The department shall make all
28   reports and lists available on its publicly accessible Internet
29   website no later than 60 days after receipt of each report.
30      (e)   Applicability.--A health system may make the report for

20260HB2241PN2942                    - 10 -
 1   each hospital that it owns or operates, provided that each
 2   hospital has its own separate report.
 3   Section 807-D.     Submission of complaints.
 4      The department shall establish an electronic form for
 5   individuals to submit complaints for alleged violations of this
 6   chapter. The department shall post the electronic form on its
 7   publicly accessible Internet website. The department shall also
 8   accept complaints via a department customer service telephone
 9   number.
10   Section 808-D.     Plans of correction.
11      Upon determining that a hospital has violated this chapter or
12   the regulations promulgated under section 811-D, the department
13   may issue a written notice to the hospital stating that a
14   violation has been committed by the hospital. The following
15   shall apply:
16             (1)   The department shall state in the written notice
17      that the hospital is required to take immediate action to
18      remedy the violation or, if the hospital is unable to
19      immediately remedy the violation, submit a plan of correction
20      to the department.
21             (2)   If the hospital is required to submit a plan of
22      correction to the department under paragraph (1), the
23      department may direct that the violation be remedied within a
24      specified period of time. The hospital must submit the plan
25      of correction no later than 30 days after the date of
26      issuance of the written notice.
27             (3)   If the department determines that the hospital is
28      required to take immediate corrective action, the department
29      shall state in the written notice that the hospital is
30      required to provide confirmation to the department that the

20260HB2241PN2942                     - 11 -
 1      corrective action has been taken.
 2   Section 809-D.    Sanctions and penalties.
 3      (a)   Grounds for sanctions.--The department may sanction a
 4   hospital for:
 5            (1)   Violating this chapter or the regulations
 6      promulgated under section 811-D.
 7            (2)   Failing to take immediate action to remedy a
 8      violation of this chapter or regulations promulgated under
 9      section 811-D.
10            (3)   Failing to submit a plan of correction to the
11      department or failing to comply with a plan of correction in
12      accordance with section 808-D.
13            (4)   Violating an order previously issued by the
14      department in a disciplinary matter.
15            (5)   Any other reason specified in this chapter or the
16      regulations promulgated by the department under section 811-D
17      as necessary to implement this chapter.
18      (b)   Civil penalties.--The department may impose a civil
19   penalty for conduct prohibited under subsection (a) each day
20   that a hospital engages in the conduct constituting a separate
21   and distinct incident, as follows:
22            (1)   No more than $2,500 for a first incident.
23            (2)   No more than $5,000 for a second incident.
24            (3)   No more than $10,000 for a third incident.
25            (4)   No more than $15,000 for a fourth or subsequent
26      incident.
27      (c)   Ineligibility.--A hospital that is sanctioned under
28   subsection (a) for a third or subsequent offense shall be
29   ineligible to receive a payment from the Hospital Uncompensated
30   Care Program under Chapter 11 of the act of June 26, 2001

20260HB2241PN2942                    - 12 -
 1   (P.L.755, No.77), known as the Tobacco Settlement Act, for the
 2   fiscal year following the third or subsequent offense.
 3      (d)   Audits.--The department may audit the publicly
 4   accessible Internet websites of hospitals to ensure compliance
 5   with this chapter.
 6      (e)   Administrative proceedings.--The department shall hold
 7   hearings and issue adjudications for proceedings conducted under
 8   this chapter in accordance with 2 Pa.C.S. (relating to
 9   administrative law and procedure) and shall conduct the
10   proceedings in accordance with 1 Pa. Code Pt. II (relating to
11   general rules of administrative practice and procedure).
12      (f)   Judicial appeals.--Department adjudications issued under
13   this chapter may be appealed to Commonwealth Court under 42
14   Pa.C.S. § 763 (relating to direct appeals from government
15   agencies).
16   Section 810-D.    Reports.
17      The department shall report annually on the progress in
18   implementing and administering this chapter and submit the
19   report to:
20            (1)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
21      Appropriations Committee of the Senate.
22            (2)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
23      Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.
24            (3)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
25      Health and Human Services Committee of the Senate.
26            (4)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
27      Health Committee of the House of Representatives.
28            (5)   The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
29      Human Services Committee of the House of Representatives.
30   Section 811-D.    Regulations.

20260HB2241PN2942                     - 13 -
 1      (a)   Temporary regulations.--In order to facilitate the
 2   prompt implementation of this chapter, regulations promulgated
 3   by the department shall be deemed temporary regulations that
 4   shall expire no later than two years following publication.
 5   Temporary regulations promulgated under this subsection shall
 6   not be subject to:
 7            (1)   Section 612 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177,
 8      No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929.
 9            (2)   Sections 201, 202, 203, 204 and 205 of the act of
10      July 31, 1968 (P.L.769, No.240), referred to as the
11      Commonwealth Documents Law.
12            (3)   Sections 204(b) and 301(10) of the act of October
13      15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth
14      Attorneys Act.
15            (4)   The act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as
16      the Regulatory Review Act.
17      (b)   Expiration.--The department's authority to adopt
18   temporary regulations under subsection (a) shall expire two
19   years after the effective date of this subsection. Regulations
20   adopted after this period shall be promulgated as provided by
21   law.
22      (c)   Publication.--The department shall submit temporary
23   regulations to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication
24   in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin no
25   later than six months after the effective date of this
26   subsection.
27      (d)   Regulations.--The department shall promulgate
28   regulations as provided by law prior to the expiration of the
29   temporary regulations as necessary to implement this chapter.
30                                CHAPTER 8-E

20260HB2241PN2942                    - 14 -
 1                    MEDICAL OFFICE PRICE TRANSPARENCY
 2   Section 801-E.   Definitions.
 3      The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
 4   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 5   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 6      "Chargemaster."   The list of all individual items and
 7   services maintained by a medical office for which the medical
 8   office has established a charge.
 9      "De-identified maximum negotiated charge."      The highest
10   charge that a medical office has negotiated with all third-party
11   payors for a medical item or service.
12      "De-identified minimum negotiated charge."      The lowest charge
13   that a medical office has negotiated with all third-party payors
14   for a medical item or service.
15      "Discounted cash price."      The charge that applies to an
16   individual who pays cash or a cash equivalent for a medical item
17   or service.
18      "Gross charge."   The charge for a health care item or service
19   that is reflected on the medical office's chargemaster, absent
20   any discount.
21      "Health care facility."      As defined in section 802.1.
22      "Item or service."   An item, service or service package that
23   could be provided by a medical office to a patient for which the
24   medical office has established a standard charge, including any
25   of the following:
26          (1)    A supply or procedure.
27          (2)    Room and board.
28          (3)    A facility fee that includes the use of a hospital
29      or other item.
30          (4)    A professional fee that includes the service of a

20260HB2241PN2942                     - 15 -
 1      health care practitioner.
 2            (5)   Any other item or service for which a medical office
 3      has established a standard charge.
 4      "Medical office."       A health care practitioner, group of
 5   health care practitioners or health care facility that charges
 6   patients for health care services and procedures. The term does
 7   not include a hospital, pharmacy or pharmacist.
 8      "Payor-specific negotiated charge."       A charge that a medical
 9   office has negotiated with a third-party payor for a health care
10   item or service.
11      "Standard charge."       A regular rate established by a medical
12   office for a health care item or service provided to a specific
13   group of paying patients reported in United States dollar
14   amount. The term includes any of the following:
15            (1)   The gross charge.
16            (2)   The payor-specific negotiated charge.
17            (3)   The de-identified minimum negotiated charge.
18            (4)   The de-identified maximum negotiated charge.
19            (5)   The discounted cash price.
20      "Third-party payor."       An entity legally responsible for
21   payment of a claim for an item or service.
22   Section 802-E.     Public availability of price information
23                  required.
24      A medical office shall make available to patients a consumer-
25   friendly and printable list of the standard charges for the
26   items and services most frequently provided by the medical
27   office in compliance with section 803-E.
28   Section 803-E.     List of standard charges.
29      (a)   Duty to maintain.--A medical office shall:
30            (1)   Maintain a list of the standard charges for the most

20260HB2241PN2942                       - 16 -
 1      frequently provided items or services in accordance with this
 2      chapter.
 3            (2)     Ensure that the list is available to the public.
 4      (b)   Contents.--The list under subsection (a) shall include:
 5            (1)     A description of each item or service that was
 6      provided by the medical office at least 50 times in the
 7      preceding calendar year.
 8            (2)     The following charges for each individual item or
 9      service that was provided by the medical office at least 50
10      times in the preceding calendar year:
11                  (i)    The gross charge.
12                  (ii)    The de-identified minimum negotiated charge.
13                  (iii)    The de-identified maximum negotiated charge.
14                  (iv)    The discounted cash price.
15                  (v)    The payor-specific negotiated charge, delineated
16            by the name of the third-party payor and plan associated
17            with the charge and displayed in a manner that clearly
18            associates the charge with the third-party payor and
19            plan.
20                  (vi)    A code used by the medical office for the
21            purpose of accounting or billing for the hospital item or
22            service, including the Current Procedural Terminology
23            code, the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System code,
24            the Diagnosis Related Group code, the National Drug Code
25            or other common identifier.
26      (c)   Location and accessibility.--A medical office shall
27   inform patients verbally, in writing or electronically about the
28   availability of the standard charges for the most frequently
29   provided items and services prior to rendering health care
30   treatment for the purpose of obtaining informed consent to the

20260HB2241PN2942                       - 17 -
 1   treatment.
 2      (d)   Online data.--A medical office shall establish, maintain
 3   and post on the medical office's publicly accessible Internet
 4   website a list of the standard charges for the most frequently
 5   provided health care services and procedures.
 6      (e)   Frequency.--The medical office shall update the standard
 7   charge information described in subsection (b), and maintained
 8   on the list required by subsections (a) and (d), at least once
 9   annually. The medical office shall clearly indicate the date
10   that the information was most recently updated.
11      (f)   Exemptions.--A medical office that does not have a
12   publicly accessible Internet website is not required to comply
13   with subsection (d). A medical office without a publicly
14   accessible Internet website shall post a written notice on
15   prominent display to patients at the physical location of the
16   medical office.
17      Section 2.     This act shall take effect in six months.




20260HB2241PN2942                    - 18 -