President Donald Trump has signed an executive order requiring hospitals and insurers to make healthcare pricing fully transparent, strengthening his administration’s efforts to eliminate hidden costs and surprise billing as detailed here. The order directs federal agencies to ensure enforcement within 90 days, putting medical providers on notice.
The policy builds upon a 2019 initiative that faced resistance from hospital organizations and insurance companies per this report. Under the new order, the Departments of Treasury, Labor and Health and Human Services must create strict enforcement measures to ensure that patients can see real prices before receiving medical care.
"Before you complain about Trump cutting Medicare, libs, think long and hard about how much is going into the millionaires and billionaires that you say you hate so much."@CarlHigbie explains why healthcare price transparency is needed. pic.twitter.com/wpVWiHDOEV
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) February 25, 2025
Polling has consistently shown that Americans want greater transparency in healthcare. One study found that 94% of adults believe hospitals and insurers should be legally required to disclose negotiated rates, discounted prices and cash options. Another survey revealed that 95% of Americans consider price transparency a top healthcare priority.
Thank you, President Trump, for delivering on your promise to empower patients and lower costs through healthcare price transparency! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/a4cQQjsbdl
— PatientRightsAdvocate.org (@PtRightsAdvoc) February 26, 2025
The healthcare industry has fought against these regulations, arguing that disclosing negotiated rates could disrupt existing contracts. Despite this, economic research suggests that transparency would significantly lower costs. A 2025 analysis projected that full compliance with Trump’s transparency rules could save $80 billion annually by allowing consumers to compare prices and seek out affordable care.
PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNS EO TO MAKE HEALTHCARE PRICES TRANSPARENT @rickdelgadorad reports. “There’s always an issue with prices. Hopefully, this will be one of the solutions as RFK, Jr. begins to take hold of HHS.@slickricksports @damonroberts @lfs6b pic.twitter.com/IAik3rkZHO
— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) February 26, 2025
Trump has positioned the order as a win for American families struggling with unpredictable healthcare expenses. “Our goal was to give patients the knowledge they need about the real price of healthcare services,” he said. “They’ll be able to check them, compare them, go to different locations, so they can shop for the highest-quality care at the lowest cost.”
Trump signs bombshell order set to turn US healthcare on its head
The ruling directs regulators to force healthcare providers and insurers to publicly disclose their prices, the idea being to make it easier for consumers to shop around for better deals.https://t.co/23t62TnaQI pic.twitter.com/9TWzsozMrZ
— Trump2024_no_matter_what (@TexasTrump2024) February 26, 2025
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy praised the executive order, stating that it delivers long-awaited accountability. “At @HHSgov, we are fulfilling our promise of radical transparency in healthcare,” he wrote on X. Trump’s move comes as the Biden administration faces legal battles over its failure to enforce existing price transparency laws.
