Hospitals Are Suing President Trump Over a New Rule Requiring Them to Publish Their Prices


US health care costs are among the highest in the world, which is due, in part, to hospitals hiding prices from patients, thus, making it impossible for patients to seek less expensive options. Hospitals privately negotiate with insurance companies to set the price of procedures. Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services, says Trump’s mandate simply requires that the hospital disclose the cost of the service before the patient accepts it. He says so-called ‘non-profit’ hospitals make a lot of money from lack of transparency. The new rule will go into effect in 2021. -GEG