Assignment Part A: On June 24, 2019, President Trump signed an executive order requiring hospitals and health plans to release prices. On November 15, 2019, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released two regulations for review and comment related to the earlier executive order with an anticipated effective date of compliance of January 1, 2020, which was later changed to January 1, 2021. The American Hospital Association (AHA), representing the hospital industry, appealed the HHS final ruling and implementation date. On December 29, 2020, a federal appeals court ruled against the AHA legal challenge. Why was the Trump administration for the executive order, and why is the hospital industry against it?
Assignment Part B: Several states have passed "surprise billing" legislation. The federal government included surprise billing legislation in the COVID-19 relief package tied to the spending bill that President Trump signed on December 27, 2020. Choose a state to research and explain what is in that state's surprise spending legislation. Compare it to what is in the federal government's surprise spending legislation. If a state has not passed "surprise billing" legislation, what actions should a hospital take to protect patients from surprise billing?
Assignment Part C: Research current news/legislation (federal or state) regarding healthcare price transparency and surprise billing. Give a synopsis and analysis of the material.