WASHINGTON – The departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury took action today to advance President Trump’s directive to ensure Americans have clear, accurate, and actionable information about healthcare prices. The departments jointly issued a Request for Information seeking public input on how to improve prescription drug price transparency. The RFI seeks input regarding the prescription drug price disclosure requirements, including information on existing prescription drug file data elements and information on implementation generally, such as the ability of health plans to access necessary data for reporting, as well as state approaches and innovation. The agencies also released updated guidance for health plans and issuers that sets a clear applicability date for publishing an enhanced technical format for disclosures. These improvements are designed to eliminate meaningless or duplicative data and make cost information easier for consumers to understand and use. “Transparency empowers individuals to make well-informed health care decisions for themselves and their families,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “The departments’ actions today execute President Trump’s mission to address rising health care costs by promoting competition in the marketplace.”Separately, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released guidance, available on the Hospital Price Transparency resources website, to strengthen the Hospital Price Transparency requirements, requiring hospitals to post the actual prices of items and services, not estimates. CMS also issued its own RFI to gather public feedback on how to boost hospital compliance and enforcement and ensure data shared is accurate and complete.“Transparency in health care is essential, not optional,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Chief of Staff and Deputy Administrator Stephanie Carlton. “Americans deserve to know exactly what they’re paying for and what they’re getting in return. We’re pulling back the curtain on pricing and ultimately value – because accountability is a foundation of a healthier nation.” These efforts align with Executive Order 14221, “Making America Healthy Again by Empowering Patients with Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Healthcare Pricing Information,” which directs the Secretaries of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to build on the groundbreaking transparency regulations launched during President Trump’s first term.Today’s actions will strengthen two key regulatory actions:The Transparency in Coverage final regulations, which require health plans and insurance companies to publicly post in-network rates, out-of-network allowed amounts, billed charges, and negotiated prices for prescription drugs.The Hospital Price Transparency final regulations, which require hospitals to publicly post standard charges, including gross charges, cash prices, payer-specific negotiated rates, and the minimum negotiated charges, in an easy-to-understand format for shoppable services. By making pricing data more useful, accurate, and accessible, these steps aim to curb rising health care costs, promote competition, and empower patients. The Trump administration remains committed to delivering more transparent, affordable, and patient-centered health care system. These efforts are a key part of the President’s mission to make America healthy again.