Contact Congress about H.R. 3561: PATIENT Act of 2023

Hospitals, health plans, labs, and drug middlemen would have to share more price data. The bill also extends key health programs and delays some Medicaid hospital cuts.

Modern Action explains what the legislation does, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

PATIENT Act of 2023 is a House bill in Congress.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects patients, hospitals, health plans, labs, pharmacies, and drug benefit middlemen. Patients and employers could get more price information before care or when choosing benefits. Health care companies would face new reporting duties and possible fines. Community health centers, teaching health centers, and safety-net hospitals would also be affected by funding extensions and delayed Medicaid cuts.

Why this matters: Health care prices are often hard to see before care, and this bill would push more of those prices into public view. That could help patients, employers, and governments compare costs. It could also show more about who owns health care businesses and how money moves between them. The effect on actual prices is uncertain and would depend on how agencies write rules and how the market responds.

Key provisions in H.R. 3561

• Every hospital would have to post a free public file that computers can read. It must show standard prices and a patient-friendly list of at least 300 shoppable services, meaning services people can compare before care. The list must use plain descriptions, include gross prices, cash prices, insurer-specific prices, and low and high negotiated prices, and be updated at least once a year.
• Hospitals could use an online price estimator instead of posting shoppable-service lists only through 2024. After 2024, they would have to use standard lists in the federal format.
• The Department of Health and Human Services would have to set one standard method and format for hospital price data by January 1, 2025. It also would have to check the data for accuracy. Large hospitals that stay out of compliance for a year could face civil fines of at least $5 million.
• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would have to keep a public list of hospitals reviewed for price transparency. The list would show whether a hospital got a warning, filed a correction plan, or paid a fine. The agency would also report enforcement results to Congress each year.
• Health plans would have to give patients real-time online cost estimates. These tools would show in-network prices, maximum allowed amounts, the patient's share of the cost, benefit limits, and prior authorization rules, meaning approval needed before care. Plans would also post machine-readable files every quarter with in-network rates and paid amounts.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 3561

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 3561

What is H.R. 3561?

Hospitals, health plans, labs, and drug middlemen would have to share more price data. The bill also extends key health programs and delays some Medicaid hospital cuts.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 3561?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 3561?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

How does Modern Action help me act on H.R. 3561?

Modern Action gives you bill-specific context, lets you choose support, opposition, or changes, and drafts a message from your position and reasons.