2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26104893D

HOUSE BILL NO. 829

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 13, 2026

A BILL to amend and reenact § 32.1-137.05 of the Code of Virginia, relating to hospital price transparency; price comparison tool; penalties for noncompliance.

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Patrons—Helmer and Simonds

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Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 32.1-137.05 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 32.1-137.05. Information regarding standard charges; advance estimate of patient payment amount for elective procedure, test, or service; price transparency.

A. Every hospital shall make available to the public on its website a machine-readable file containing a list of all standard charges for all items and services provided by the hospital in accordance with 45 C.F.R. § 180.50, as amended. As used in this subsection, "hospital," "items and services," "machine-readable," and "standard charge" have the same meaning as set forth in 45 C.F.R. § 180.20.

B. Every hospital shall, upon request of a patient scheduled to receive an elective procedure, test, or service to be performed by the hospital, or upon request of such patient's legally authorized representative, made no less than three days in advance of the date on which such elective procedure, test, or service is scheduled to be performed, furnish the patient with an estimate of the payment amount for which the participant will be responsible for such elective procedure, test, or service. Every hospital shall provide written information about the patient's ability to request an estimate of the payment amount pursuant to this section. Such written information shall be posted conspicuously in public areas of the hospital, including admissions or registration areas, and included on any website maintained by the hospital.

C. The Department shall create and maintain or shall contract with a nonprofit organization as defined in § 32.1-276.3 to create and maintain a hospital price transparency comparison tool based on the information provided by hospitals pursuant to subsection A and the information available through the Virginia All-Payer Claims Database established pursuant to § 32.1-276.7:1. Such tool shall be accessible through the Department's website and shall allow users to search for and filter results by hospital and procedure.

D. Whenever a dispute arises between a hospital and a patient over a patient payment amount, the list of all standard charges for all items and services required by subsection A shall be used to determine the correct payment amount and reasonableness of the payment.

E. Whenever a dispute arises between a hospital and a patient over a patient payment amount for an elective procedure, test, or service and the hospital is unable to provide a standard charge for such elective procedure, test, or service that has been made available to the public on its website pursuant to the requirements of subsection A as of the date such elective procedure, test, or service was performed, such hospital shall discharge any debt associated with such elective procedure, test, or service and shall not require payment from the patient for such elective procedure, test, or service.