Oklahoma's Legislative Move Towards Hospital Price Transparency: A Call to Action
On May 20, 2025, the Oklahoma Legislature made a significant leap towards healthcare reform by passing a landmark bill aimed at hospital price transparency. PatientRightsAdvocate.org (PRA), a leading advocate for healthcare pricing integrity, celebrated this bipartisan effort and called on Governor Kevin Stitt to sign Senate Bill 889 into law without hesitation. This initiative, which mandates that hospitals disclose their service prices upfront, aims to give Oklahomans the power to make informed choices about their healthcare.
Cynthia Fisher, the Founder and Chairman of PRA, expressed her excitement over the passage of S.B. 889, describing it as a "victory for every healthcare consumer in Oklahoma." In her statement, she emphasized, "The ability to see and compare hospital prices in exact dollars and cents will empower patients to shop for the best care at the lowest price, as well as spur unprecedented competition within a functional market." This is especially crucial as Oklahoma grapples with the second-highest medical debt rate in the United States.
The new legislation would compel hospitals to make prices for services publicly accessible online, ensuring that the price information would be easily comparable for patients. The move aligns with a larger national trend towards healthcare price transparency, which has gained momentum across various states where lawmakers are pushing for reforms designed to protect consumers from hidden charges and exorbitant bills.
Senate Bill 889 also reinforces the existing federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule, which was first established under the Trump administration in 2021 and has seen expansions in its guidelines as of early 2025. According to PRA’s latest report, only a dismal 12% of Oklahoma hospitals are fully compliant with the federal transparency regulations, highlighting the urgent need for state-level enforcement mechanisms to ensure accountability.
As Fisher poignantly noted, "Real prices will increase accountability, lower costs, improve care, and save lives." The passage of S.B. 889 not only promises to enhance the healthcare experience for patients by allowing them to view and compare prices, but it also serves as a catalyst for changing the dynamics of the healthcare market in Ohio.
PRA aims to drive systemic changes across the nation and insists that transparency is paramount for fostering an effective and competitive healthcare marketplace. The organization believes that making healthcare prices visible and accessible is vital for reducing costs for patients and employers alike, leading to healthier outcomes and fairer pricing practices.
Fisher remarked on the broader implications of the legislation, stating that it is part of a nationwide movement aimed at transforming the healthcare system with radical price transparency. "We don’t expect the momentum to slow down, and we surely won't let it," she affirmed, positioning Oklahoma's progress as a pivotal moment in the battle for fair healthcare pricing.
In a time where countless Oklahomans struggle with medical expenses, the call to action is clear: Governor Stitt must take immediate steps to certify the passage of this transformative legislation, paving the way for a future where healthcare is both transparent and affordable. Taking this step could mean a brighter future for healthcare in the state, with fewer individuals falling prey to unjust medical billing practices and gaining a genuine foothold in managing their health expenses.
PRA continues its mission to advocate for price transparency as a necessary component of healthcare reform. With focused efforts on raising awareness and lobbying for policy change, the organization is set to play a crucial role in ensuring that patients receive fair pricing, thus encouraging legislators nationwide to prioritize transparency initiatives in their healthcare policies.
Cynthia Fisher, the Founder and Chairman of PRA, expressed her excitement over the passage of S.B. 889, describing it as a "victory for every healthcare consumer in Oklahoma." In her statement, she emphasized, "The ability to see and compare hospital prices in exact dollars and cents will empower patients to shop for the best care at the lowest price, as well as spur unprecedented competition within a functional market." This is especially crucial as Oklahoma grapples with the second-highest medical debt rate in the United States.
The new legislation would compel hospitals to make prices for services publicly accessible online, ensuring that the price information would be easily comparable for patients. The move aligns with a larger national trend towards healthcare price transparency, which has gained momentum across various states where lawmakers are pushing for reforms designed to protect consumers from hidden charges and exorbitant bills.
Senate Bill 889 also reinforces the existing federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule, which was first established under the Trump administration in 2021 and has seen expansions in its guidelines as of early 2025. According to PRA’s latest report, only a dismal 12% of Oklahoma hospitals are fully compliant with the federal transparency regulations, highlighting the urgent need for state-level enforcement mechanisms to ensure accountability.
As Fisher poignantly noted, "Real prices will increase accountability, lower costs, improve care, and save lives." The passage of S.B. 889 not only promises to enhance the healthcare experience for patients by allowing them to view and compare prices, but it also serves as a catalyst for changing the dynamics of the healthcare market in Ohio.
PRA aims to drive systemic changes across the nation and insists that transparency is paramount for fostering an effective and competitive healthcare marketplace. The organization believes that making healthcare prices visible and accessible is vital for reducing costs for patients and employers alike, leading to healthier outcomes and fairer pricing practices.
Fisher remarked on the broader implications of the legislation, stating that it is part of a nationwide movement aimed at transforming the healthcare system with radical price transparency. "We don’t expect the momentum to slow down, and we surely won't let it," she affirmed, positioning Oklahoma's progress as a pivotal moment in the battle for fair healthcare pricing.
In a time where countless Oklahomans struggle with medical expenses, the call to action is clear: Governor Stitt must take immediate steps to certify the passage of this transformative legislation, paving the way for a future where healthcare is both transparent and affordable. Taking this step could mean a brighter future for healthcare in the state, with fewer individuals falling prey to unjust medical billing practices and gaining a genuine foothold in managing their health expenses.
PRA continues its mission to advocate for price transparency as a necessary component of healthcare reform. With focused efforts on raising awareness and lobbying for policy change, the organization is set to play a crucial role in ensuring that patients receive fair pricing, thus encouraging legislators nationwide to prioritize transparency initiatives in their healthcare policies.
Topics Policy & Public Interest）
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