October 17, 2024
Pricing Transparency Tools Available
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed and maintains tools to support hospitals in meeting some of the machine-readable file (MRF) requirements for Hospital Price Transparency.
- Online Validator
- Tests machine readable files against the required CMS template layouts and data specifications (45 CFR 180.50(c)(2)).
- The online validator runs in a user’s web browser, and it is recommended for nontechnical users.
- Command Line (CLI) Validator
- Tests machine readable files against the required CMS template layouts and data specifications (45 CFR 180.50(c)(2)).
- The CLI is a downloaded tool that runs locally in the user’s terminal, and it is recommended for technically proficient users validating multiple files simultaneously or integrating the validator into a software pipeline.
- MRF Naming Wizard
- Assists users in generating the MRF file name in accordance with the naming convention requirements (45 CFR 180.50(d)(5)).
- TXT File Generator
- Assists users in generating a TXT file with the required attributes of information to improve accessibility to MRFs (45 CFR 180.50(d)(6)(i)).