This bill, effective January 1, 2027, amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to enhance billing transparency for services provided at off-campus outpatient hospital departments. It mandates that hospitals obtain and include a separate unique health identifier for each such department on all claims submitted to group health plans or health insurance issuers. This measure aims to ensure that billing practices accurately reflect the location where services were rendered. Under these provisions, group health plans and health insurance issuers would be prohibited from paying claims for services at off-campus outpatient departments if the required unique identifier is missing. Furthermore, hospitals would be barred from submitting such claims or holding individuals liable for services without including this identifier. To ensure compliance, the Secretary of Labor is directed to establish a process for reporting suspected violations and may assess civil monetary penalties against non-compliant hospitals, ranging from $300 to $5,500 per day depending on hospital size.
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 34 - 0.
Health
Transparency in Billing Act of 2026
USA119th CongressHR-8684| House
| Updated: 5/21/2026
This bill, effective January 1, 2027, amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to enhance billing transparency for services provided at off-campus outpatient hospital departments. It mandates that hospitals obtain and include a separate unique health identifier for each such department on all claims submitted to group health plans or health insurance issuers. This measure aims to ensure that billing practices accurately reflect the location where services were rendered. Under these provisions, group health plans and health insurance issuers would be prohibited from paying claims for services at off-campus outpatient departments if the required unique identifier is missing. Furthermore, hospitals would be barred from submitting such claims or holding individuals liable for services without including this identifier. To ensure compliance, the Secretary of Labor is directed to establish a process for reporting suspected violations and may assess civil monetary penalties against non-compliant hospitals, ranging from $300 to $5,500 per day depending on hospital size.