It’s an all too common experience for people after a hospital trip — surprise medical bills. Both the Biden and Trump administrations set guidelines requiring hospitals to provide pricing estimates online.

But experts such as Patrick Keenan, policy director for the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, said only 40% of hospitals in the Commonwealth comply with the requirements. Even fewer provide easily accessible information, Keenan said.

“What services do you consume that you have no idea what the cost is going to be until after you consume those services?” said Rep. Tarik Khan (D-Philadelphia).

It’s a bipartisan question being asked.

Sen. Dawn Keefer (R-Cumberland/York) said one of her constituents had to pay $1,200 more out of pocket than a hospital’s estimate. Current federal laws do not penalize hospitals when their estimates are wrong.

So, Keefer and Khan are proposing an amendment to the Pennsylvania Health Care Facilities Act. Under it, hospitals with a lack of transparency can expect a lack of payments.

“The hospital cannot collect on that debt until they are in compliance,” Keefer said. “Also, we give millions upon millions of state dollars to hospitals, and we would withhold those.”

Lawmakers add the problem doesn’t end with hospitals. Future amendments could address other parts of the healthcare industry.

“There is two parts to the rule: insurance compliance and hospital price transparency,” Keefer said. “So, this is step one.”