In late June, President Trump signed an executive order directing HHS to develop rules requiring hospitals to publish clear and understandable pricing that reflects what people will actually pay for services. HHS Secretary Alex Azar added that the order should also make certain that providers and insurers provide patients with information about potential out-of-pocket costs they will face before receiving healthcare services.

While details about how the rules of the order will work are yet to be determined, hospital and health plan lobbyists criticized the order, saying it will increase prices and reduce competition. The President and CMS Administrator Seema Verma emphasized that the intention of the order is to combat the huge price variations that have long existed among healthcare facilities and make it easier for patients to find low cost, high-quality care.

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