Business Management

Hospital Prices Posted. Few Patients Look.

Federal rules require hospitals to post prices so patients can shop. Instead, insurers and providers use the data to negotiate what they get paid.

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  • 1

    Republicans propose patients compare healthcare prices.

  • 2

    Trump's plan pushes price posting for providers.

  • 3

    Compliance with transparency rules is low.

  • 4

    Insurance companies use price data for negotiations.

  • 5

    Patients often don't compare prices due to procedural complexities.

  • 6

    Research shows price transparency doesn't significantly affect patient behavior.

  • 7

    Lack of standardization in pricing contributes to confusion.

  • 8

    Price listings are often not user-friendly for patients.

Original Source(s)

Hospital Prices Posted. Few Patients Look.

Federal rules require hospitals to post prices so patients can shop. Instead, insurers and providers use the data to negotiate what they get paid.

  • by Darius Tahir

  • February 17, 2026

  • 7 min

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