Health

ALEC Policy Champions: Representatives Barhorst and Ferguson Deliver Price Transparency for Ohio Patients

Reps. Barhorst and Ferguson worked on the legislation for two years facing numerous obstacles but, in the end, their tireless efforts resulted in a bill that should be celebrated by patients in Ohio who can now access actual prices to shop for their healthcare.

Bringing more price transparency to healthcare is an Essential Policy Solution for ALEC in 2025. As healthcare costs continue to soar, we’ve seen states take the lead in ensuring federal hospital price transparency laws are followed. Knowing what healthcare costs is a necessary first step in bring those costs down, and Ohio, led by Rep. Tim Barhorst and Rep. Ron Ferguson, joined the states stepping up to enforce the transparency laws which ultimately benefit patients.

Representatives Tim Barhorst and Ron Ferguson introduced HB 49 in February 2023, and it was passed unanimously by both chambers as an amendment to HB 173 in December 2024. The bill was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine on January 3, 2025.  Their legislation models the federal transparency rules initially passed in the Affordable Care Act but later modified and clarified by President Trump. The legislation is also consistent with ALEC’s Hospital Price Transparency Act.

A new report by Patient Rights Advocate shows that only around 13% of Ohio hospitals are in compliance with federal transparency laws. The Barhorst-Ferguson bill will require hospitals to publish prices upfront in dollars and cents allowing patients to take control of their care and protect themselves from overcharges. Reps. Barhorst and Ferguson worked on the legislation for two years facing numerous obstacles but, in the end, their tireless efforts resulted in a bill that should be celebrated by patients in Ohio who can now access actual prices to shop for their healthcare.

Congratulations to Rep. Tim Barhorst and Rep. Ron Ferguson on being named ALEC Policy Champions!


In Depth: Health

There has never been a time when both federal and state jurisdictions have been more in control of American’s healthcare than it is today. Implementation of the Affordable Care Act is well in motion, and each state has considered how to address provisions of the federal law as it has…

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