Transparency in Coverage Rule

On 11/12/2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury published the Transparency in Coverage Final Rule (85 FR 72158-01). The Transparency in Coverage Rule requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to provide pricing information for covered items and services as follows:

• In-network provider negotiated rates
• Historical out-of-network provider allowed amounts

The above pricing information, provided in machine-readable files, is available to the public and can be used by third parties, such as researchers and application developers, to help a member better understand the costs associated with their healthcare. The macine readable files are not, however, an estimate of the cost patients will be responsible for paying for such item or service. Coverage of any item or service in the files is subject to the terms, limitations and conditions of the member’s contract. Always check the member’s benefits for coverage information and limitations.

Access the Table of Contents for the Transparency in Coverage Rule machine-readable pricing files. To retrieve the most current published file, be sure to clear your browser’s cache before downloading.

The Transparency in Coverage Rule also requires health plans to make cost-sharing information available to members through an internet-based self-service tool or upon request. In order to receive an estimate of the costs patients will be responsible for paying for an item or service, member's can call the number on the back of their insurance card or access Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama's Treatment Cost Estimator. This cost tool allows members to search for cost-sharing information per code based on negotiated rates as mandated by the Transparency in Coverage Rule.