President Donald Trump just signed a major executive order that will change American healthcare. This order is aimed at making healthcare prices transparent. It will allow patients to see the real costs of tests and procedures. The goal is simple—help consumers shop around and find better deals. For years, healthcare prices have been hidden behind closed doors. But now, Trump wants to force providers and insurers to show their cards. He believes this will help drive down costs. His new approach takes a stronger stance than his 2019 order, which many healthcare providers did not fully follow. This new move is meant to change that.
Full price disclosure is coming
The new order requires healthcare providers and insurers to publicly disclose their prices. This means no more guessing how much a test or procedure will cost. Patients will be able to easily compare prices before making a decision. It’s a step toward giving consumers more power in the healthcare market. For too long, healthcare pricing has been a mystery. The prices were set through private negotiations among doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and insurers. Those involved kept the information hidden, arguing that secrecy was essential for negotiating better deals. But Trump wants to take the veil off these prices. He believes that if patients know the real costs, they will demand lower prices. This transparency will force prices down and help people save money.
The healthcare industry pushes back
Not everyone agrees with Trump’s plan. Many insurance groups fear that revealing prices will hurt the market. They argue that this will raise premiums, not lower them. Hospital groups have also voiced strong opposition. They claim that the new policy will violate their First Amendment rights. They say it will strip them of their ability to negotiate with insurers. Despite the pushback, Trump is moving forward. During his first term, he introduced a similar price transparency rule. But in 2022, only 14% of hospitals fully complied with the rules. That’s not enough for Trump. He’s determined to make this happen.
Strengthening enforcement
This new executive order gives government departments more power to enforce price transparency. The departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services will oversee the process. They are tasked with ensuring hospitals and insurers share real, exact prices—not just estimates. The order also pushes for making price comparisons easier across different providers. To make sure everyone follows the rules, the departments will update enforcement policies. Previously, hospitals could face a $300-a-day fine for not complying. But that wasn’t enough to get them to follow through. Now, the government is taking a stronger approach. This time, the administration hopes the threat of tougher enforcement will make a real difference.
A long-awaited change
Many healthcare experts are applauding this move. Cynthia Fisher, from PatientRightsAdvocate.org, called the order a “game-changer.” She believes it will transform the entire healthcare system. Price transparency will create competition, which will bring prices down. It will shift the power to those who actually pay for care—the patients. Fisher argues that consumers should not have to pay inflated prices for basic procedures. For example, why pay $3,000 for an MRI when it can be done for $300? Why accept a $12,000 colonoscopy bill when the fair market price is around $1,000? With transparent prices, patients will be able to make informed decisions and avoid overpaying.
Trump’s healthcare revolution
This isn’t the first time Trump has taken action to lower healthcare costs. Just days before signing this order, he signed another one aimed at reducing the cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Trump believes that making healthcare more affordable for families is a key issue. Along with this, he is also pushing for radical transparency in government spending. He thinks that by exposing wasteful spending, taxpayers will save money. His efforts to make healthcare more affordable and accessible are clear. He believes that these moves will benefit families across the country, especially women and couples struggling with infertility.
Legal challenges loom
While the new order is bold, it may face legal challenges. Some hospital and insurance groups are already threatening to fight the rules in court. If the order survives, patients could become a driving force in the healthcare market. For years, patients have followed their doctor’s advice without knowing the full cost of care. They’ve picked doctors based on reputation or insurance networks. But with clearer pricing, patients may start making decisions based on price as well. This could force healthcare providers to rethink their pricing strategies.
Obama’s legacy and Trump’s push
The issue of healthcare price transparency isn’t new. Under the Obama administration, efforts were made to disclose list prices for hospital services. But Trump’s approach goes even further. He’s targeting the prices actually paid by insurers, not just the list prices hospitals display. This is a deeper dive into the system that could bring real change. Many experts argue that high healthcare costs are the root of the country’s affordability crisis. Healthcare makes up about 18% of the U.S. economy, and it’s a huge burden on families, taxpayers, and businesses. By pushing for transparency, Trump hopes to reduce these costs. His new executive order could be a crucial step toward fixing the system and making healthcare more affordable for everyone.
