COLUMBUS, OH — A new state law requiring all Ohio hospitals to publicly list their service prices went into effect Thursday, signaling a significant shift in healthcare transparency.
The Hospital Price Transparency Act, championed by State Representatives Ron Ferguson (R-Wintersville) and Tim Barhorst (R-Fort Loramie), is intended to provide patients with accurate information about medical costs prior to receiving care.
The law requires hospitals to publish exact prices for services online in dollars and cents, allowing patients to compare costs and avoid surprise bills.
This law will empower Ohioans with clear, up-front information about the costs of medical care. This is about the ability of patients to make informed decisions, shop for affordable options, and avoid surprise bills that can devastate families.”
Ron Ferguson (R-Wintersville)
Barhorst added that the law could help create a more competitive healthcare market.
This bill is going to establish a true free market in healthcare. This gives patients and their employer-sponsored plan the opportunity to partner together for the sake of transparency and quality healthcare.”
Tim Barhorst (R-Fort Loramie)
The legislation, originally introduced as House Bill 49 in February 2023, was unanimously approved by the House and Senate as part of House Bill 173 in December 2024. Governor Mike DeWine signed it into law in January 2025.
According to state officials, compliance will be overseen by the Ohio Department of Health. Hospitals that fail to meet the new transparency requirements may face penalties, including fines.
Several Ohio hospital systems, including OhioHealth, OSU Wexner Medical Center, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, have expressed support for the law and have already provided cost-estimating tools to patients.
Lawmakers describe the law as the first of its kind at the state level, with the goal of giving Ohioans more control over their healthcare choices and lowering the risk of financial hardship due to medical bills.
