Eighty-nine percent of voters report it is important for Congress to act on hospital prices within the next two years, a new poll from the Alliance for Fair Health Pricing (AFFHP) found.
That includes 93% of Democrats and 86% of Republican respondents. The Oct. 20 survey drew insights from 1,212 registered voters between Sept. 4 and 6.
Eight in 10 respondents report reducing healthcare prices should be a high legislative priority, up from 71% in 2024. Reducing healthcare costs also rose as an “extremely high priority” from 46% in 2024 to 62% in 2026 among respondents.
But, despite the growing demand, 72% of respondents report worrying that legislators won’t do enough to lower prices—including 79% of Democrats and 67% of Republicans.
"Voters are sending policymakers a clear message: act now on hospital price transparency," said Alexandra Spratt, Arnold Ventures vice president of healthcare, in a statement. "Congress has made important progress, but the job is not finished. Strengthening transparency requirements is one of the most effective steps policymakers can take to promote accountability, foster competition, and help lower health care costs."
The poll also examined voters’ attitudes towards policies that could potentially lower healthcare costs. Key highlights include:
- 87% support preventing hospitals from charging more than provider offices for the same outpatient services
- 85% support preventing hospitals from charging “facility fees” for services at outpatient clinics or for telehealth visits
- 79% support limiting what hospitals can charge for services to “no more than twice the price that Medicare pays”
Moreover, 92% of respondents support a mandate that would require hospitals to fully disclose costs before providing care.
“For too long, corporate hospital systems have operated without accountability, taking over doctors' offices, cornering local markets, and charging artificially high hospital prices for routine care, and working families are sick of footing the bill,” said Sophia Tripoli, Families USA managing director of health policy, in a statement. “This new survey confirms, once again, that the majority of Americans agree that price transparency is an essential tool to hold corporate hospitals accountable for lowering health care costs. Congress must take the chance to deliver on price transparency before the end of the year.”