Trump administration warns more than 500 hospitals to provide more price information or face fines

The Trump administration has warned more than 500 hospitals that they are failing to provide the public with basic pricing information, arguing that a lack of disclosure keeps healthcare costs higher than they should be. The Associated Press obtained a list of hospitals that since April have received warning letters or been asked to submit plans to post transparent pricing. Penalties can reach as high as $2 million annually for each institution that does not create a plan to post clear pricing data. Officials say the letters are intended to fix a problem that leaves patients, employers and insurers in the dark about prices before care. The administration plans to tighten enforcement of price transparency standards established by a 2019 executive order. The push could affect Republican strongholds like Texas, Florida, Indiana, Alabama and Louisiana, which house many noncompliant hospitals. Texas had 42 warned hospitals, including Baptist Medical Center in San Antonio and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The list also includes Ascension facilities and 34 hospitals in Indiana, with California and others following.