US hospitals must publish price lists after losing court challenge

The American Hospital Association and several other US hospital associations have lost a legal challenge against a proposed Trump administration rule requiring hospitals to publish price lists of their common services and procedures.

A US district court in Washington found that the rule, drafted last year by President Trump’s health department, did not exceed the agency’s authority or impose an undue regulatory burden on the hospital industry. The judge, Carl Nichols, also rejected the American Hospital Association’s argument that publishing prices negotiated with insurers could actually drive them up.1

The ruling was “a resounding victory for President Trump,” said the US health secretary, Alex Azar. “With today’s decision, we will continue …