Prices on the Wall Act of 2026

This Act may be cited as the “Prices on the Wall Act of 2026”.

Section 2718 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–18) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(f) Requirement to post prices on the walls.—

(1) Hospitals.— Each hospital operating in the United States shall, beginning January 1, 2028, post on the wall of such hospital (in such areas as specified by the Secretary) the discounted cash price, as applicable, expressed as a dollar amount, for each Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services-specified shoppable service that is furnished by the hospital when provided in, as applicable, the inpatient setting and outpatient department setting (or, in the case no discounted cash price is available for such service, the median cash price charged by the hospital to self-pay individuals for such service when provided in such settings for the previous 3 years, expressed as a dollar amount).

(2) Ambulatory surgical centers.— Each ambulatory surgical center operating in the United States shall, beginning January 1, 2028, post on the wall of such center (in such areas as specified by the Secretary) the discounted cash price, as applicable, expressed as a dollar amount, for each Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services-specified shoppable service that is furnished by the center (or, in the case no discounted cash price is available for such service, the median cash price charged by the center to self-pay individuals for such service for the previous 3 years, expressed as a dollar amount).

(3) Laboratories.— Each laboratory operating in the United States shall, beginning January 1, 2028, post on the wall of such laboratory (in such areas as specified by the Secretary) the discounted cash price, as applicable, expressed as a dollar amount, for each specified clinical diagnostic laboratory test that is a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services-specified shoppable service furnished by the laboratory (or, if no such price exists, the gross charge for such test).

(4) Providers furnishing imaging services.— Each provider of services and supplier furnishing imaging services operating in the United States shall, beginning January 1, 2028, post on the wall of such provider or supplier (in such areas as specified by the Secretary) the discounted cash price, as applicable, expressed as a dollar amount, for each imaging service that is a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services-specified shoppable service furnished by the provider or supplier (or, in the case no such price exists, the gross charge for such service).

(5) Definitions.— In this subsection:

(A) Discounted cash price.— The term discounted cash price means the charge that applies to an individual who pays cash, or cash equivalent, for an item or service.

(B) Shoppable service.— The term shoppable service means a service that can be scheduled by a health care consumer in advance and includes all ancillary items and services customarily furnished as part of such service.

(C) Specified clinical diagnostic laboratory test.— The term “specified clinical diagnostic laboratory test” means a clinical diagnostic laboratory test other than an advanced diagnostic laboratory test (as defined in section 1834A(d)(5) of the Social Security Act).”.