119-HR-8684 Journalist Public Summary
119 · HR 8684 Transparency in Billing Act of 2026
Bipartisan House bill H.R. 8684 would require employer health plans to pay only hospital claims that include a unique ID for the off‑campus department that provided care, to improve billing accuracy; it advanced 34–0 in committee on May 21, 2026, and would take effect for plan years starting January 1, 2027.
Headline Summary
A bipartisan bill would make employer health plans pay hospital claims only when the claim clearly identifies the specific off‑campus department that treated the patient, aiming to cut billing errors and improve transparency.
What It Does
The Transparency in Billing Act of 2026 amends ERISA so group health plans and insurers can only pay hospital claims for care delivered at an off‑campus outpatient department if the claim includes that department’s separate unique health identifier. Hospitals also may not bill patients for such care unless that identifier is used. The bill directs the Labor Department to set up a process to report suspected violations within a year of enactment and authorizes daily civil penalties for hospitals that don’t comply. The requirements apply to plan years starting on or after January 1, 2027.
- Targets off‑campus outpatient departments to make location-of-service clear on claims.
- Bars payment by group plans/insurers and patient billing by hospitals when the required identifier is missing.
- Directs the Secretary of Labor to create a public reporting process for suspected violations within one year of enactment.
- Sets daily penalties for noncompliance, scaled by hospital size (see metrics).
- Does not set prices or payment rates; it focuses on accurate, trackable claims data.
Who’s For It
- Bill sponsors: Rep. Virginia Foxx (R‑NC) and Rep. Robert C. Scott (D‑VA).
- House Education and Workforce Committee members of both parties: the bill was ordered reported, amended, by a 34–0 vote on May 21, 2026.
- Supporters argue clearer identifiers help reduce claim errors and make it easier to spot inappropriate or duplicate charges tied to where care was delivered.
Who’s Against It
- No recorded “no” votes in the May 21, 2026 committee markup; formal opposition has not been publicly noted at that stage.
- Potential concerns (not yet formally registered): hospitals may warn of new administrative costs, risk of delayed claim payments or denials if identifiers are missing, and sharper penalties that could hit small or rural facilities.
What’s Next
After clearing committee on May 21, 2026, the bill will be formally reported to the House. Next, House leaders would decide whether to schedule a floor vote. If it passes the House, it moves to the Senate; to become law, both chambers must pass the same text and send it to the President.
- Introduced
- May 7, 2026
- Committee
- House Education and Workforce
- Latest action
- Ordered reported (amended), 34–0 — May 21, 2026
- Earliest applicability
- Plan years beginning on or after Jan 1, 2027
Discussion