An Act relative to hospital price transparency

This bill requires hospitals in Massachusetts to make their standard charges for all medical items and services available in a machine-readable format on their websites. It also mandates that hospitals provide patients with cost estimates for elective procedures at least three days before the service is scheduled, with clear instructions on how to request these estimates posted in public areas. Hospitals that fail to comply with these transparency requirements could face legal penalties under state unfair trade practices laws, allowing the attorney general to seek restitution and civil fines.