President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at ensuring hospitals and insurance companies reveal the actual prices of medical services, putting an end to secretive billing practices that have left patients with unpredictable costs. This new directive strengthens a 2019 order that faced resistance from the healthcare industry and limited enforcement under the Biden administration.
The order requires the Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to create enforcement mechanisms within 90 days, ensuring that hospitals and insurers comply with price transparency rules. The directive mandates that actual prices — not estimates — be made available to the public, allowing patients to compare costs before making healthcare decisions.
"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
Americans have long called for more transparency in medical pricing. Polls indicate that 95% of the public considers price transparency a top priority, with many frustrated by hidden costs and surprise billing. One study found that price comparison shopping could lead to $80 billion in annual savings for consumers and employers.
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
While hospitals and insurance companies have pushed back against the rule, arguing that revealing negotiated rates could disrupt the market, Trump and his administration have insisted that transparency is essential for lowering costs. “It’s been unpopular in some circles because people make less money, but it’s great for the patient,” Trump said while signing the order.
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
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy praised the order, calling it a game-changer for patients. “This executive order will empower patients with the knowledge they need to make informed health decisions,” he wrote on X. He added that enforcing these rules would help fulfill the administration’s commitment to “radical transparency” in healthcare.
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
The Biden administration previously faced lawsuits for failing to enforce similar transparency rules on prescription drugs. Trump’s new order makes it clear that his administration intends to hold insurers and hospitals accountable for keeping patients in the dark.
