Your Healthcare Power Tools

Identify where hospitals obstructed cooperation or violated federal laws. Use these points to negotiate bill reductions.

Standing firm against unfair billing practices can lead to successful outcomes, often without the hospital pursuing legal action due to the risk of a judge setting a lower payment amount.

For more information or to report violations, you can contact CMS through their website. Additionally, contact our advocates for support or questions.

ACA Section 2718E): Every hospital in the U.S. must create and share a yearly list of their standard prices for services and items, including rates for specific treatment groups under the Social Security Act.

(HHS 9915): Hospitals must publicly share the actual prices paid for their services, known as the Amount Generally Billed (AGB). This includes discounted rates for major insurance companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Cigna, and Aetna, as well as Medicare and cash prices.

(ACA, IRS Section 501®): Hospitals are required to clearly share information about their financial help programs with the public.

(FTC Act Section 5a): This rule prevents businesses from engaging in unfair or deceptive practices that affect commerce.

Protects consumers from unexpected medical bills for out-of-network emergency care. Patients can’t be charged extra by out-of-network doctors or hospitals. Instead, the health plan and the provider must agree on a fee or have an independent party decide it.

Aims to stop abusive, misleading, and unfair debt collection practices.